reindeer

Meaning

Noun

1. (plural) Any Arctic and subarctic-dwelling deer of the species Rangifer tarandus, with a number of subspecies.
2. (plural) Any species, subspecies, ecotype, or other scientific grouping of such animals.

Verb

To herd or farm reindeer

Synonyms

caribou

Rangifer tarandus

Greenland caribou

deer

🦌

rein

roe deer

stag

🦌

rangifer

cervine

hart

Translations

renne

🦌

renna

🦌

Rentier

🦌

reno

🦌

rendier

🦌

Ren

🦌

rena

🦌

τάρανδος

ren

🦌

caribou

rangífer

caribú

rangífero

🦌

Karibu

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹeɪndɪə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: reyndere

Cognate with Dutch: rendier

Cognate with German: Renntier

Cognate with Swedish: rendjur

Cognate with Danish: rensdyr

Cognate with Old English: hrān

In summary

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”). Related also to displaced Old English hrān (“reindeer”). Unrelated to rein.