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grizzly bear

noun
  1. a large North American brown bear, Ursus (arctos) horribilis, with coarse, gray-tipped brown fur, once widespread in the western part of the continent as far south as northern Mexico but now restricted to some regions of Alaska, western Canada, and the U.S. Rocky Mountains: a threatened species except in Alaska.
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Also grizzly.
Compare brown bear.

Origin of grizzly bear

First recorded in 1685–95
Also called silvertip.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for grizzly bear

Historical Examples

  • Down in the grizzly-bear pit one of the bears squatted himself in the pool and sat there, grinning complacently at the crowd.

    Mince PieAuthor: Christopher Darlington MorleyRelease Date: October 10, 2004 [eBook #13694]

    Christopher Darlington Morley

  • Finding himself as helpless as a child in that grizzly-bear grip, he ceased his struggles.

    The Long Chance

    Peter B. Kyne

  • He would miss Old Mike Sikoria, his hairy kiss and his grizzly-bear hug!

    King Coal

    Upton Sinclair

  • “Look out for the grizzly-bear,” roared the captain, as his friends advanced at a run, waving their torches encouragingly.

    The Golden Dream

    R.M. Ballantyne

  • Nothing worth wasting ink upon has occurred for some time, except the capture of two grizzly-bear cubs by the immortal Yank.

British Dictionary definitions for grizzly bear

grizzly bear

noun
  1. a variety of the brown bear, Ursus arctos horribilis, formerly widespread in W North America; its brown fur has cream or white hair tips on the back, giving a grizzled appearanceOften shortened to: grizzly
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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