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Elk - 7 dictionary results
elk
[elk] 
–noun, plural elks, (especially collectively
) elk for 1, 2.
) elk for 1, 2. | 1. | Also called European elk. the moose, Alces alces. |
| 2. | Also called American elk, wapiti. a large North American deer, Cervus canadensis, the male of which has large, spreading antlers. |
| 3. | a pliable leather used for sport shoes, made originally of elk hide but now of calfskin or cowhide tanned and smoked to resemble elk hide. |
| 4. | (initial capital letter) a member of a fraternal organization (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks) that supports or contributes to various charitable causes. |
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE eolc, eolh; c. G Elch (OHG el(a)ho), L alcēs, Gk álkē
bef. 900; ME; OE eolc, eolh; c. G Elch (OHG el(a)ho), L alcēs, Gk álkē
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To Elk
| elk (ělk) n. pl. elk or elks
[Middle English, probably alteration of Old English eolh.] |
| wap·i·ti (wŏp'ĭ-tē) n. wapiti or wap·i·tis A large light brown or grayish-brown North American deer (Cervus canadensis) having long, branching antlers. Also called American elk, elk. [Shawnee waapiti.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Elk
Elk\, n. [Icel. elgr; akin to Sw. elg, AS. eolh, OHG. elaho, MHG. elch, cf. L. alces; perh. akin to E. eland.] (Zo["o]l.) A large deer, of several species. The European elk (Alces machlis or Cervus alces) is closely allied to the American moose. The American elk, or wapiti (Cervus Canadensis), 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 (Zo["o]l.), the eland.Elk
Elk\, Elke \Elke\, n. (Zo["o]l.) The European wild or whistling swan (Cygnus ferus).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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elk
late O.E., from O.N. elgr or O.E. elh, eolh, or possibly M.H.G. elch, all from P.Gmc. *elkh-, related to the general word for "deer" in Gk. and Balto-Slavic, from PIE *ol-/*el- "red, brown" (in animal and tree names) perhaps with reference to the reddish color (cf. Skt. harina- "deer," from hari- "reddish-brown"). Gk. alke and L. alces are Gmc. loan-words. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks founded N.Y.C. 1868, originally a society of actors and writers.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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