onehorned

Onehorned is a term that can refer to several different things, primarily relating to animals with a single horn or mythical creatures possessing such a feature.

In zoology, a single-horned animal is most famously the rhinoceros. The rhinoceros is a large, thick-skinned mammal with one or two horns projecting from its snout. The Sumatran rhinoceros and the Indian rhinoceros are species that are characterized by a single horn, distinguishing them from the African white and black rhinoceroses which possess two. These horns are made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails and hair, and are not true bone. They are used for defense, digging for water, and as a tool for foraging.

Beyond rhinoceroses, the concept of a single horn is most prominently associated with the mythical unicorn. The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been depicted since antiquity as a white horse or horse-like animal with a single, large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. The horn of the unicorn is often described as having magical properties, such as the ability to purify water and heal the sick. While rooted in mythology, the imagery of the unicorn has had a lasting impact on art, literature, and popular culture.

In other contexts, "onehorned" might be used descriptively for objects or even phenomena that have a singular prominent projection resembling a horn. However, its primary and most recognized meanings are tied to the rhinoceros and the unicorn.