moose

[moos]

noun, plural moose.

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.
(initial capital letter) a member of a fraternal and benevolent organization (Loyal Order of Moose).

Origin of moose

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for moose

Contemporary Examples of moose

Forgive my candor, though such is my wont, but much like that moose on a spit, Bernie is dead.
How the Lame Democrats Blew It
Goldie Taylor
November 5, 2014
You could hold classes in the Moose Lodge or at the Y. Classes would be large.
My Commencement Speech to Rutgers’ Geniuses: Go Forth and Fail
P. J. O’Rourke
May 18, 2014
Princess Anne, on a visit to Canada, was given a painting by a contemporary artist - of the Princess riding a moose.
Royal Gifts Revealed
Tom Sykes
January 15, 2014
The Social Network writer and West Wing creator used to dress up as a moose to hand out pamphlets in a mall.
2012’s Best Commencement Speeches: Steve Carell & More (VIDEO)
Jake Heller
June 17, 2012
The Truth About the Moose He claims Chuck Heath was going to take Molly's tag And shoot a moose.
The Poems of Sarah Palin
Michael Solomon
June 20, 2011

Historical Examples of moose

I could feel the hairy shoulder of the moose and across his antlers Nukéwis calling me.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
The Onondaga let his pipe go out while he explained the winter habits of moose.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
The cricket, however, did not listen to the moose because crickets do whatever they want.
FreeChildrenStories.com Collection
Daniel Errico
When the moose cow reached this fence, she hardly noticed it.
The House in the Water
Charles G. D. Roberts
Some Indian hunters once made their way north, to hunt for moose.
Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children
Mabel Powers

British Dictionary definitions for moose

moose

noun plural moose

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 Origin for moose

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

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 moose

1610s, from an Algonquian language, probably Narragansett moos or Abenaki moz (cf. Penobscot muns, Ojibwa mooz, Unami Delaware /mo:s/), said by early sources to be from moosu "he strips off," in reference to the animals' stripping bark for food.