reindeer

[reyn-deer]

noun

plural

reindeer ,

plural

reindeers .

1. any of several large deer of the genus Rangifer, of northern and Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, both male and female of which have antlers.

reindeer

/ ˈreɪnˌdɪə /

noun

1. a large deer, Rangifer tarandus , having large branched antlers in the male and female and inhabiting the arctic regions of Greenland, Europe, and Asia. It also occurs in North America, where it is known as a caribou

Word History and Origins

Origin of reindeer¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English raynder(e), from Old Norse hreindȳri, equivalent to hreinn “reindeer” + dȳr “animal” (cognate with deer )

Word History and Origins

Origin of reindeer¹

C14: from Old Norse hreindӯri , from hreinn reindeer + dyr animal; related to Dutch rendier , German Rentier ; see _deer

Example Sentences

A Nordic heatwave saw 22 straight days of temperatures over 30C in Finland, the longest since records began, with reindeer dying of the heat in Rovaniemi, known as "the hometown of Santa Claus".

Read more on Barron's

Rumors swirled that screeners didn’t show up because it was the start of reindeer hunting season.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The extreme heat is also affecting Lapland's famed reindeer.

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It meant none of the snow activities part of the package - a husky ride, reindeer encounter and snowmobile trip - could go ahead.

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The permafrost melted, exposing in the process the frozen carcasses of reindeer who had died an estimated 150 years before thanks to an epidemic of anthrax.

Read more on Salon