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Webster 1913 Edition
Reindeer
Rein′deerˊ
(rān′dēr)
, Noun.
[Icel.
hreinn
reindeer + E. deer
. Icel. hreinn
is of Lapp or Finnish origin; cf. Lappish reino
pasturage.] [Formerly written also
raindeer
, and ranedeer
.] (Zool.)
Any ruminant of the genus
Rangifer
, of the Deer family, found in the colder parts of both the Eastern and Western hemispheres, and having long irregularly branched antlers, with the brow tines palmate. ☞ The common European species (
Rangifer tarandus
) is domesticated in Lapland. The woodland reindeer or caribou (Rangifer caribou
) is found in Canada and Maine (see Caribou
.) The Barren Ground reindeer or caribou (Rangifer Groenlandicus
), of smaller size, is found on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, in both hemispheries. Reindeer moss
(Bot.)
, a gray branching lichen (
– Cladonia rangiferina
) which forms extensive patches on the ground in arctic and even in north temperature regions. It is the principal food of the Lapland reindeer in winter. Reindeer period
(Geol.)
, a name sometimes given to a part of the Paleolithic era when the reindeer was common over Central Europe.
Webster 1828 Edition
Reindeer
REINDEER
, n.A species of the cervine genus; more correctly written ranedeer, or rather rane, which is the true name.