Irish elk

American  

noun

1. an extinct deerlike mammal of the genus Megaceros (Megaloceros ), of the Pleistocene Epoch, having in the male extremely large, broad antlers.

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Irish elk British  

noun

1. an extinct Eurasian giant deer of the Pleistocene genus Megaloceros, which had antlers up to 4 metres across

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Etymology

Origin of Irish elk

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

"It's from something bigger than a cow, from a mammoth, Irish elk and aurochs to more unusual stuff like wild horse or rhino," he told the BBC.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Well, Irish elk are no exception, and to begin sculpting the dentures, Fred needed to construct a solid base for the dentures which would fit neatly into the fossil skull.

From Scientific American • Apr. 23, 2012

This is the Academy’s darling fossil Irish elk.

From Scientific American • Apr. 23, 2012

The Irish elk was originally determined to be an elk because of its teeth’s similarity to the modern elk, Cervus canadensis.

From Scientific American • Apr. 23, 2012

See also Owen, ‘British Fossil Mammals,’ on the Irish elk, p.

From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex Volume II (1st Edition) by Darwin, Charles