caribou

[ kar-uh-boo ]

noun

, plural car·i·bous, (especially collectively) car·i·bou.

1. any of several large, North American deer of the genus Rangifer, related to the reindeer of the Old World.

caribou

¹

/ ˈkærɪˌbuː /

noun

1. 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 reindeer Also called (Canadian)tuktu

Caribou

²

/ ˈkærɪˌbuː /

noun

1. a mixed drink containing wine and grain alcohol

Word History and Origins

Origin of caribou¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1665–75; from Canadian French caribou, replacing earlier English caribo, both from Mi'kmaq γalipu derivative (agent noun) of γalipi- “shovel snow,” from unattested Proto-Algonquian maka·lipi-; called the snow-shoveler from its habit of scraping aside snow with its front hoofs in search of food

Word History and Origins

Origin of caribou¹

C18: from Canadian French, of Algonquian origin; compare Micmac khalibu literally: scratcher

Example Sentences

Grizzly bears, caribou, wolves, moose, and Dall sheep all call Denali home.

From Outside Online

To this day, local Inupiat people can be seen hunting caribou during the animals’ yearly migration through Kobuk.

From Outside Online

Established in 1980 to protect the Brooks Range and hundreds of miles of caribou migration lands, the park remains truly wild to this day—no services, no roads, and no trails.

From Outside Online

The Gwich’in Nation relies on those caribou, and other natural resources in ANWR, to support their way of life.

From Outside Online

ANWR also provides calving grounds for one of the largest remaining herds of caribou.

From Outside Online

If you're weird and running for office there, the best place to start seems to be Caribou County.

From The Daily Beast

Caribou antlers protrude from the wood paneling on the walls with hollow gift-wrapped presents dangling from the dried bone.

From The Daily Beast

I sent him some caribou jerky from Alaska to help keep up his strength on the Senate floor.

From The Daily Beast

Palin, who touts her caribou-hunting heritage, also tweeted, "Don't retreat, RELOAD!"

From The Daily Beast

Caribou Island: A Novel The acclaimed author of the short-story collection Legends of a Suicide returns with his debut novel.

From The Daily Beast

Many of them had settled here after mining at the Caribou field and other places on the Frazer River.

From Project Gutenberg

Fortunately the wind was blowing from the caribou's direction, and without scenting danger he trotted briskly along the trail.

From Project Gutenberg

Uncle Will fired again and with better effect, for the caribou stopped and wavered.

From Project Gutenberg

The new-comers gathered around the caribou and plied the successful hunters with questions.

From Project Gutenberg

Fust I knew them geysers begun for to groan egregious like, an' I seen the caribou gallopin' hell-bent south.

From Project Gutenberg