Meanings
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1
noun
a North American reindeer, a large Arctic and subarctic deer in which both sexes can grow antlers
The caribou scraped snow aside with its hooves to reach the lichen beneath.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Borrowed from Canadian French caribou, from Mi'kmaq qalipu or a related form for the animal, traditionally interpreted as 'snow-shoveler.' The name refers to the deer's habit of pawing through snow to reach lichen. Reindeer is the usual Eurasian name for the same species.