reindeer moss

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noun

any of several lichens of the genus Cladonia, especially the gray, many-branched C. rangiferina, of Arctic and subarctic regions, eaten by reindeer and caribou.

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Origin of reindeer moss

First recorded in 1745–55

Words nearby reindeer moss

rein, reincarnate, reincarnation, reindeer, Reindeer Lake, reindeer moss, reindustrialization, reindustrialize, Reinecke, Reiner, reinfect

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use reindeer moss in a sentence

Not only has he not “done Santa in four years,” but he has sold his reindeer as well.
Kerry Bentivolio: The Congressman Who Believes in Santa Claus|Ben Jacobs|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yes, the future lawmaker built up a full-service Santa business with a sleigh pulled by real reindeer.
Kerry Bentivolio: The Congressman Who Believes in Santa Claus|Ben Jacobs|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We sing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Jingle Bells”.
Congress’ Gift That Keeps on Giving|P. J. O’Rourke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Presumably with caroling, though presumably not with “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”
Keep Christmas Commercialized!|P. J. O’Rourke|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In New York, district attorneys have a tendency to grow moss-bound in their roles.
Meet Dan Donovan, the Prosecutor Who Let Eric Garner’s Killer Walk|David Freedlander|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He walked about, stumbling over sticks and stones and stumps, sometimes falling down on soft moss, and again on the hard ground.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
It was the home that had sheltered her orphan childhood; she had never slept a night from under its moss-grown roof.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie
The large soft leaves and the pendent moss of the oaks were gray with dust, but the shade was cool and delicious.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Studying it very carefully, he thought he made out "Mrs." before the moss-blurred name.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
Jess quickly found a dry spot thick with moss between two stones.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner

British Dictionary definitions for reindeer moss

reindeer moss

noun

any of various lichens of the genus Cladonia, esp C. rangiferina, which occur in arctic and subarctic regions, providing food for reindeer

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