Hart vs. Buck — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 6, 2024
A hart is a mature stag, specifically a male deer over five years old, often associated with red deer; a buck refers broadly to a male deer of any age or species.
Difference Between Hart and Buck
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A hart specifically refers to an adult male deer, particularly a red deer or fallow deer, and is typically used to describe an animal over five years old. On the other hand, the term buck is a general designation for male deer across various species, regardless of age, including species like white-tailed deer, mule deer, and others.
In terms of usage in literature and historical contexts, 'hart' carries an older, more archaic tone, often found in medieval texts and traditional hunting terminologies. Meanwhile, 'buck' is widely used in modern language, prevalent in contemporary hunting, wildlife management, and casual conversation.
The physical characteristics of a hart often emphasize a more mature animal with larger antlers, signifying age and wisdom in animal symbolism. In contrast, a buck can range from a young deer with small antlers to an older deer with significant antler development, depending on its age and species.
In cultural symbolism, the hart is sometimes imbued with mythological significance, representing purity and virility. Conversely, the buck is commonly represented in various cultures as a symbol of strength and vigor, but without the specific aged wisdom often associated with the hart.
Both terms can be found in discussions of deer and wildlife, the use of 'hart' is more specialized and less frequent today, often reserved for specific historical or poetic contexts. In contrast, 'buck' is universally recognized and used across various contexts from biology to everyday speech.
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Comparison Chart
Age
Mature, typically over five years old.
Any age, from young to old.
Species Association
Primarily red deer and fallow deer.
All deer species.
Usage in Language
Archaic, mostly in historical or poetic texts.
Common, used in modern and casual contexts.
Cultural Symbolism
Represents purity, virility, and wisdom.
Symbolizes strength and vigor.
Typical Description
Larger, more developed antlers.
Varies widely with age and species.
Compare with Definitions
Hart
A mature male deer, especially a red deer over five years old.
The hart roamed majestically through the forest.
Buck
Frequently appears in North American cultural contexts.
The buck is a prominent figure in local folklore.
Hart
Historically significant term in medieval hunting.
Knights often hunted the hart as a test of their prowess.
Buck
A male deer of any age.
A young buck ventured out at dawn.
Hart
Symbol of purity in some myths.
The white hart was seen as a creature of mythological purity.
Buck
Common term in wildlife and hunting discussions.
The hunters tracked the buck for miles.
Hart
Used in poetic and heraldic imagery.
The family crest featured a hart standing beside a stream.
Buck
Varies in antler size with age and health.
The old buck displayed massive antlers.
Hart
Noted for its large, impressive antlers.
The hart’s antlers were a sight to behold during the mating season.
Buck
Used metaphorically to denote strength and virility.
He was always the young buck of his social circle.
Hart
An adult male deer, especially a red deer over five years old.
Buck
A male deer.
Hart
A male deer, especially a male red deer over five years old.
Buck
The male of various other mammals, such as antelopes, kangaroos, mice, or rabbits.
Hart
A male deer, especially the male of the red deer after his fifth year.
Buck
Antelope considered as a group
A herd of buck.
Hart
A male red deer or one of related species.
Buck
A robust or high-spirited young man.
Hart
Obsolete spelling of heart
Buck
A fop.
Hart
A stag; the male of the red deer. See the Note under Buck.
Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind.
Buck
(Offensive) A Native American or black man.
Hart
United States playwright who collaborated with George S. Kaufman (1904-1961)
Buck
An act or instance of bucking
A horse that unseated its rider on the first buck.
Hart
United States lyricist who collaborated with Richard Rodgers (1895-1943)
Buck
Buckskin.
Hart
Male red deer
Buck
Bucks Buckskin breeches or shoes.
Buck
A sawhorse or sawbuck.
Buck
A leather-covered frame used for gymnastic vaulting.
Buck
(Informal) A dollar.
Buck
(Informal) An amount of money
Working overtime to make an extra buck.
Buck
A large round amount of currency, especially a hundred dollars.
Buck
A hundred of some other units, especially miles per hour or pounds
Was doing a buck twenty out on the Interstate.
A boxer weighing in at a buck fifty.
Buck
(Games) A counter or marker formerly passed from one poker player to another to indicate an obligation, especially one's turn to deal.
Buck
(Informal) Obligation to account for something; responsibility
Tried to pass the buck for the failure to his boss.
Buck
To leap upward while arching the back
The horse bucked in fright.
Buck
To charge with the head lowered; butt.
Buck
To make sudden jerky movements; jolt
The motor bucked and lurched before it finally ran smoothly.
Buck
To resist stubbornly and obstinately; balk.
Buck
(Informal) To strive with determination
Bucking for a promotion.
Buck
To throw or toss by bucking
Buck off a rider.
Bucked the packsaddle off its back.
Buck
To oppose directly and stubbornly; go against
“Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the country, is bucking the trend” (American Demographics).
Buck
(Football) To charge into (an opponent's line) carrying the ball.
Buck
To butt against with the head.
Buck
To pass (a task or duty) to another, especially so as to avoid responsibility
"We will see the stifling of initiative and the increased bucking of decisions to the top" (Winston Lord).
Buck
Of the lowest rank in a specified military category
A buck private.
A buck sergeant.
Buck
A male deer, antelope, sheep, goat, rabbit, hare, and sometimes the male of other animals such as the hamster, ferret and shad.
Buck
(US) An uncastrated sheep, a ram.
Buck
A young buck; an adventurous, impetuous, dashing, or high-spirited young man.
Buck
A fop or dandy.
Buck
A black or Native American man.
Buck
A unit of a particular currency
Buck
A dollar (one hundred cents).
Can I borrow five bucks?
Buck
A rand (currency unit).
Buck
A euro.
Buck
Money.
Corporations will do anything to make a buck.
Buck
(finance) One million dollars.
Buck
One hundred.
The police caught me driving a buck forty [140 miles per hour] on the freeway.
That skinny guy? C'mon, he can't weigh more than a buck and a quarter [125 pounds].
Buck
An implement the body of which is likened to a male sheep’s body due maintaining a stiff-legged position as if by stubbornness.
Buck
The body of a post mill, particularly in East Anglia. See Wikipedia:Windmill machinery.
Buck
A frame on which firewood is sawed; a sawhorse; a sawbuck.
Buck
A leather-covered frame used for gymnastic vaulting.
Buck
A wood or metal frame used by automotive customizers and restorers to assist in the shaping of sheet metal bodywork.
Buck
(dated) An object of various types, placed on a table to indicate turn or status; such as a brass object, placed in rotation on a US Navy wardroom dining table to indicate which officer is to be served first, or an item passed around a poker table indicating the dealer or placed in the pot to remind the winner of some privilege or obligation when his or her turn to deal next comes.
Buck
Synonym of buck dance.
Buck
Synonym of mule
Buck
A kind of large marble in children's games.
Buck
(Scotland) The beech tree.
Buck
Lye or suds in which cloth is soaked in the operation of bleaching, or in which clothes are washed.
Buck
The cloth or clothes soaked or washed.
Buck
(intransitive) To copulate, as bucks and does.
Buck
(intransitive) To bend; buckle.
Buck
To leap upward arching its back, coming down with head low and forelegs stiff, forcefully kicking its hind legs upward, often in an attempt to dislodge or throw a rider or pack.
Buck
To throw (a rider or pack) by bucking.
Buck
To subject to a mode of punishment which consists of tying the wrists together, passing the arms over the bent knees, and putting a stick across the arms and in the angle formed by the knees.
Buck
To resist obstinately; oppose or object strongly.
The vice president bucked at the board's latest solution.
Buck
To move or operate in a sharp, jerking, or uneven manner.
The motor bucked and sputtered before dying completely.
Buck
To overcome or shed (e.g., an impediment or expectation), in pursuit of a goal; to force a way through despite (an obstacle); to resist or proceed against.
The plane bucked a strong headwind.
Our managers have to learn to buck the trend and do the right thing for their employees.
John is really bucking the odds on that risky business venture. He's doing quite well.
Buck
(riveting) To press a reinforcing device (bucking bar) against (the force of a rivet) in order to absorb vibration and increase expansion. See Wikipedia: Rivet:Installation.
Buck
(forestry) To saw a felled tree into shorter lengths, as for firewood.
Buck
(electronics) To output a voltage that is lower than the input voltage. See Wikipedia: Buck converter
Buck
To soak, steep or boil in lye or suds, as part of the bleaching process.
Buck
To wash (clothes) in lye or suds, or, in later usage, by beating them on stones in running water.
Buck
(mining) To break up or pulverize, as ores.
Buck
Lye or suds in which cloth is soaked in the operation of bleaching, or in which clothes are washed.
Buck
The cloth or clothes soaked or washed.
Buck
The male of deer, especially fallow deer and antelopes, or of goats, sheep, hares, and rabbits.
Buck
A gay, dashing young fellow; a fop; a dandy.
The leading bucks of the day.
Buck
A male Indian or negro.
Buck
A frame on which firewood is sawed; a sawhorse; a sawbuck.
Buck
The beech tree.
Buck
To soak, steep, or boil, in lye or suds; - a process in bleaching.
Buck
To wash (clothes) in lye or suds, or, in later usage, by beating them on stones in running water.
Buck
To break up or pulverize, as ores.
Buck
To copulate, as bucks and does.
Buck
To spring with quick plunging leaps, descending with the fore legs rigid and the head held as low down as possible; - said of a vicious horse or mule.
Buck
To subject to a mode of punishment which consists in tying the wrists together, passing the arms over the bent knees, and putting a stick across the arms and in the angle formed by the knees.
Buck
A gymnastic horse without pommels and with one end elongated; used lengthwise for vaulting
Buck
A piece of paper money worth one dollar
Buck
United States author whose novels drew on her experiences as a missionary in China (1892-1973)
Buck
A framework for holding wood that is being sawed
Buck
Mature male of various mammals (especially deer or antelope)
Buck
To strive with determination;
John is bucking for a promotion
Buck
Resist;
Buck the trend
Buck
Move quickly and violently;
The car tore down the street
He came charging into my office
Buck
Jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched;
The yung filly bucked
Buck
Of the lowest rank in a category;
A buck private
Common Curiosities
Why is the term 'hart' less common today?
'Hart' is archaic and primarily used in historical or poetic contexts, whereas 'buck' is more universally applicable and modern.
How are harts depicted in literature?
Harts are often portrayed as noble creatures, central to hunting scenes in medieval and Renaissance literature.
What exactly distinguishes a hart from a buck?
A hart is specifically a mature male red deer, while a buck can be any male deer of any age or species.
Can the term 'buck' refer to other animals besides deer?
Yes, 'buck' can also refer to male rabbits and some other mammal species, but it is predominantly used to denote male deer.
How does the term 'hart' enrich historical narratives?
'Hart' brings a sense of historical depth and authenticity, often used to evoke a bygone era of chivalry and traditional hunting.
What is the significance of a hart in mythology?
In various myths, the hart often symbolizes purity and is sometimes seen as a creature with magical properties.
Can 'buck' be used in a non-animal context?
Yes, in slang, 'buck' is sometimes used to refer to a dollar in American English.
What role do harts and bucks play in environmental conservation?
Both are important in discussions of biodiversity and wildlife management, though 'buck' is more commonly used in these contexts.
Why might an artist choose to depict a hart in a painting?
An artist might choose a hart for its mythological and historical associations, often conveying themes of nobility and purity.
What is a common context for using 'buck' in everyday language?
It is commonly used when discussing deer in general, especially in North America, and can also mean an energetic young man.
Are harts considered more majestic than bucks?
Yes, in traditional views, harts, due to their age and larger antlers, are often considered more majestic and venerable.
Are there different hunting regulations for harts and bucks?
Generally, hunting regulations differentiate by species and gender rather than by specific terms like hart or buck, though mature deer like harts may have specific seasons or rules.
Is there a difference in the physical appearance between a hart and a buck?
Yes, a hart, being an older animal, typically has larger and more developed antlers compared to younger bucks.
How do cultural representations of harts and bucks differ?
Harts are often imbued with an air of ancient wisdom or spirituality, while bucks are more broadly symbolized as figures of strength.
Does the use of 'buck' vary internationally?
Yes, while widely understood, the term 'buck' and its specific cultural connotations can vary, especially outside of North America where local terms for male deer may differ.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
