late 14c., from Anglo-Fr.
auntiler, from O.Fr.
antoillier (Mod.Fr.
andouiller) "antler," perhaps from Gallo-Romance
cornu *antoculare "horn in front of the eyes," from L.
ante "before" (see
ante) +
ocularis "of the eyes." Doubted by some, because no similar word exists in any other Romance language, but cf. Ger.
Augensprossen "antlers," lit. "eye-sprouts," for a similar formation.