caribou
[kar-uh-boo]
- any of several large, North American deer of the genus Rangifer, related to the reindeer of the Old World.
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Origin of caribou
1665–75, Americanism; < Canadian French caribou, replacing earlier English caribo, both < Micmac γalipu derivative (agent noun) of γalipi- shovel snow < Proto-Algonquian *maka·lipi-; called the snow-shoveler from its habit of scraping aside snow with its front hoofs in search of food
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for caribou
Contemporary Examples
If you're weird and running for office there, the best place to start seems to be Caribou County.
Caribou antlers protrude from the wood paneling on the walls with hollow gift-wrapped presents dangling from the dried bone.
I sent him some caribou jerky from Alaska to help keep up his strength on the Senate floor.
Caribou Island: A Novel The acclaimed author of the short-story collection Legends of a Suicide returns with his debut novel.
Historical Examples
A caribou had passed toward the larger lake that very morning.
The Long Labrador TrailDillon Wallace
Within three hours after we had first seen the caribou we were on our way again.
The Long Labrador TrailDillon Wallace
We crawled to our positions with the greatest care; but the caribou was alert.
The Long Labrador TrailDillon Wallace
They always abound where there are caribou, which form their main living.
The Long Labrador TrailDillon Wallace
We were with the fish again, and caribou and wolf tracks were seen.
The Long Labrador TrailDillon Wallace
caribou
- a large deer, Rangifer tarandus, of Arctic regions of North America, having large branched antlers in the male and female: also occurs in Europe and Asia, where it is called a reindeerAlso called (Canadian): tuktu
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Word Origin
C18: from Canadian French, of Algonquian origin; compare Micmac khalibu literally: scratcher
Caribou
- Canadian a mixed drink containing wine and grain alcohol
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for caribou
n.
also cariboo, 1660s, from Canadian French caribou, from Micmac (Algonquian) kaleboo or a related Algonquian name, literally "pawer, scratcher," from its kicking snow aside to feed on moss and grass.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper