moose n.
1. Zool. A large cervine mammal (Alces alces syn. Alces machlis, syn Alces Americanus), native of the Northern United States and Canada. The adult male is about as large as a horse, and has very large, palmate antlers. It closely resembles the European elk, and by many Zoologists is considered the same species. See Elk.
2. A member of the Progressive Party; a Bull Moose. [Obsolescent. Cant, from the early 1900's.]
Moose bird Zool., the Canada jayor whisky jack. See Whisky jack.
Moose deer. Same as Moose.
Moose yard Zool., a locality where moose, in winter, herd together in a forest to feed and for mutual protection.
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elk n. Zoöl. A large deer, of several species. The European elk Alces alces (formerly Alces machlis or Cervus alces) is closely allied to the American moose. The American elk, or wapiti (Cervus Canadensis) the largest member of the deer family, has large, spreading antlers and is closely related to the European stag. See Moose, and Wapiti.
Irish elk Paleon., a large, extinct, Quaternary deer (Cervus giganteus) with widely spreading antlers. Its remains have been found beneath the peat of swamps in Ireland and England. See Illustration in Appendix; also Illustration of Antler.
Cape elk Zoöl., the eland.
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Alces alces
n : large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the
male; called elk in Europe and moose in North America
[syn: elk, European elk, moose]