/muːs/, /mʉs/
OriginEarlier mus, moos, from an Eastern Algonquian language name for the animal, such as Massachusett moos, mws, Narragansett moos or Penobscot mos (cognate to Abenaki moz), from Proto-Algonquian *mo·swa (“it strips”), referring to how a moose strips tree bark when feeding: compare Massachusett moos-u (“he strips, cuts smooth”).
- The largest member of the deer family (Alces americanus, sometimes included in Alces alces), of which the male has very large, palmate antlers.
“We saw a moose at the edge of the woods.”
- Any of the extinct moose-like deer of the genera Cervalces and Libralces.
“Europe’s giant beavers lived at the same time as the first moose, Libralces gallicus.”
- US, slangAn Asian girl taken as a lover.
“In military bases in the rear areas it was common for soldiers to have a moose.”
“Even the lowest ranked serviceman, because of his salary, benefits, and status as an American occupationaire, could afford to “maintain a ‘Moose’ and still take care of his other obligations.””
Formsmoose(plural) · mooses(dated, plural, rare) · meese(humorous, nonstandard, plural)