caribou

[ kar-uh-boo ]

noun

, plural car·i·bous, (especially collectively) car·i·bou.

1. any of several large, North American deer of the genus Rangifer, related to the reindeer of the Old World.

caribou

¹

/ ˈkærɪˌbuː /

noun

1. a large deer, Rangifer tarandus, of Arctic regions of North America, having large branched antlers in the male and female: also occurs in Europe and Asia, where it is called a reindeer Also called (Canadian)tuktu

Caribou

²

/ ˈkærɪˌbuː /

noun

1. a mixed drink containing wine and grain alcohol

Word History and Origins

Origin of caribou¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1665–75; from Canadian French caribou, replacing earlier English caribo, both from Mi'kmaq γalipu derivative (agent noun) of γalipi- “shovel snow,” from unattested Proto-Algonquian maka·lipi-; called the snow-shoveler from its habit of scraping aside snow with its front hoofs in search of food

Word History and Origins

Origin of caribou¹

C18: from Canadian French, of Algonquian origin; compare Micmac khalibu literally: scratcher

Example Sentences

Maybe a reality show following a caribou breeder in Alaska?

From Los Angeles Times

The park is home to 53 species of mammals, including moose, bears, elks, mountain goats and caribou.

From BBC

In Caribou, in the northeastern tip of the state, it was 96 degrees, tying the highest temperature ever recorded there.

From New York Times

Reindeer and caribou -- biologically the same species with different names based on geography -- live in the northern reaches of the globe in wild, feral, free-ranging and domestic forms.

From Science Daily

His collaborators in Alaska just sent him samples from 16 species, including bison, caribou, and mountain goats.

From Science Magazine