moose
nounnouncommon in dialogue
- Scotland//mʉs//
- //muːs//
The largest member of the deer family (Alces americanus, sometimes included in Alces alces), of which the male has very large, palmate antlers.
noun
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
figurativeAn ugly person.
Etymology
Earlier 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”).
noun
- 1
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.”
Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese むすめ (“daughter”).
Forms
- plural
- mooses, meese
moose · The largest member of the deer family (Alces americanus, sometimes included in Alces alces), of which the male has very large, palmate antlers.
Moose · An English surname.mop · An implement for washing floors or similar, made of a piece…MOP · GBU-57; Acronym of Massive Ordnance Penetrator.