reindeer
noun
- type of deer
- domesticated reindeer
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈɹeɪndɪə/ / /ˈɹeɪndɪɹ/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English reyndere, reynder, rayne-dere, from Old Norse hreindýri (“reindeer”), from hreinn (“reindeer”) + dýr (“animal”). Compare Dutch rendier (“reindeer”), German Rentier (“reindeer”), Swedish rendjur (“reindeer”), Danish rensdyr (“reindeer”) and French renne (“reindeer”). Related also to displaced Old English hrān (“reindeer”). Unrelated to rein.
- Any Arctic and subarctic-dwelling deer of the species Rangifer tarandus, with a number of subspecies.
“Santa Claus' sleigh is supposedly pulled by nine reindeer”
“Here is a prodigious number of wild beaſts, as ſtags, bears, wolves, foxes of various colours, martens, hares, glittens, beavers, otters, elk, and rein deer: the latter is leſs than a stag.”
- Any species, subspecies, ecotype, or other scientific grouping of such animals.
verb
Etymology: From Middle English reyndere, reynder, rayne-dere, from Old Norse hreindýri (“reindeer”), from hreinn (“reindeer”) + dýr (“animal”). Compare Dutch rendier (“reindeer”), German Rentier (“reindeer”), Swedish rendjur (“reindeer”), Danish rensdyr (“reindeer”) and French renne (“reindeer”). Related also to displaced Old English hrān (“reindeer”). Unrelated to rein.
- To herd or farm reindeer