moose

[ moos ]

noun

, plural moose.

1. a large, long-headed mammal, Alces alces, of the deer family, having circumpolar distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, the male of which has enormous palmate antlers.
2. (initial capital letter) a member of a fraternal and benevolent organization Loyal Order of Moose.

moose

/ muːs /

noun

1. a large North American deer, Alces alces, having large flattened palmate antlers: also occurs in Europe and Asia where it is called an elk

Word History and Origins

Origin of moose¹

1595–1605, Americanism; < Eastern Abenaki mos, reinforced by cognates in other Algonquian languages, all < Proto-Algonquian *mo˙swa

Word History and Origins

Origin of moose¹

C17: from Algonquian; related to Narraganset moos, from moosu he strips, alluding to the moose's habit of stripping trees

Example Sentences

In colder climates, for example, moose are often about 80 pounds heavier than their southern compatriots.

From Popular-Science

Over the coming decades, the bus would become an area landmark, serving as a shelter for moose hunters and backcountry travelers.

From Outside Online

In this 45,809-acre wilderness, hikers are about as likely to see a moose as another human.

From Outside Online

Wildlife sightings—moose, bears, deer, foxes, coyotes, and a host of other animals—are a magical part of the trail experience, but encounters with animals trying to raid your food stash can be an annoyance and a safety hazard.

From Outside Online

Wolves, grizzly bears, and moose are all incredibly dangerous to both humans and pets, and dogs should be kept on a leash at all times.

From Outside Online

In the end, Republicans did not win control of the Senate so much as the Democrats delivered it like a field-dressed moose.

From The Daily Beast

Forgive my candor, though such is my wont, but much like that moose on a spit, Bernie is dead.

From The Daily Beast

On stage, Amber spoofed Sarah Palin in a topknot and librarian glasses, yanking a toy gun and stuffed moose from her skirt.

From The Daily Beast

You could hold classes in the Moose Lodge or at the Y. Classes would be large.

From The Daily Beast

Princess Anne, on a visit to Canada, was given a painting by a contemporary artist - of the Princess riding a moose.

From The Daily Beast

Here Justin entered with a steaming bowl of stewed moose meat and prairie spinach.

From Project Gutenberg

Then she noticed that he had stopped, and was looking at her in deprecation, and was holding aside the screen of moose-maples.

From Project Gutenberg

They also make finger rings out of moose hair, taken from the breast tuft of this animal, in which mottoes or devices are worked.

From Project Gutenberg

He understood that the moose had gone back to watch for his pursuers.

From Project Gutenberg

The deer and moose were in their well-trodden "yards," for the snow was deep.

From Project Gutenberg

What Is The Plural Of Moose?

Plural word for moose

The plural form of moose is moose. Because it doesn’t use an -s like a regular plural, it’s an example of an irregular plural. The same kind of irregular plurals are also used for some other animal names, such as in deer, sheep, and fish. 

Some people suggest (often jokingly) that the plural form of moose should be meese, following the pattern of goose and geese. The reason it doesn’t follow this pattern is because the two words derive from completely unrelated languages (goose is from Old English, while moose is from Algonquian). 

Do you know: What is the plural of mongoose?