Word Study
reindeer
CIDE DICTIONARY
reindeer, n. [Icel. hreinn reindeer + E. deer. Icel. hreinn is of Lapp or Finnish origin; cf. Lappish reino pasturage.].
Any ruminant of the genus Rangifer , of the Deer family, found in the colder parts of both the Eastern and Western hemispheres, and having long irregularly branched antlers, with the brow tines palmate. [1913 Webster]
" The common European species (Rangifer tarandus ) is domesticated in Lapland. The woodland reindeer or caribou (Rangifer caribou ) is found in Canada and Maine (see Caribou .) The Barren Ground reindeer or caribou (Rangifer Grœnlandicus ), of smaller size, is found on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, in both hemispheries." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
reindeer, n. (pl. same or reindeers) a subarctic deer, Rangifer tarandus, of which both sexes have large antlers, used domestically for drawing sledges and as a source of milk, flesh, and hide.
Idiom
reindeer moss an arctic lichen, Cladonia rangiferina, with short branched stems growing in clumps.
Etymology
ME f. ON hreind|ri f. hreinn reindeer + d|r DEER
THESAURUS
reindeer
Cape elk, Siberian husky, Virginia deer, antelope, ass, beast of burden, buck, camel, camelopard, caribou, deer, deerlet, doe, draft animal, dromedary, eland, elephant, elk, fallow deer, fawn, gazelle, giraffe, gnu, hart, hartebeest, hind, horse, husky, kaama, llama, malamute, moose, mule, mule deer, musk deer, okapi, ox, pack horse, red deer, roe, roe deer, roebuck, sledge dog, springbok, stag, sumpter, sumpter horse, sumpter mule, wildebeestROGET THESAURUS
reindeer
Carrier
N carrier, porter, bearer, tranter, conveyer, cargador, express, expressman, stevedore, coolie, conductor, locomotive, motor, beast, beast of burden, cattle, horse, nag, palfrey, Arab, blood horse, thoroughbred, galloway, charger, courser, racer, hunter, jument, pony, filly, colt, foal, barb, roan, jade, hack, bidet, pad, cob, tit, punch, roadster, goer, racehorse, pack horse, draft horse, cart horse, dray horse, post horse, ketch, Shetland pony, shelty, sheltie, garran, garron, jennet, genet, bayard, mare, stallion, gelding, bronco, broncho, cayuse, creature, critter, cow pony, mustang, Narraganset, waler, stud, Pegasus, Bucephalus, Rocinante, ass, donkey, jackass, mule, hinny, sumpter horse, sumpter mule, burro, cuddy, ladino, reindeer, camel, dromedary, llama, elephant, carrier pigeon, pallet, brace, cart, dolley, support, fork lift, carriage, ship, equine, asinine.For further exploring for "reindeer" in Webster Dictionary Online