DCHP-1 Online

carreboeuf [< Cdn F] Obs.

• any of several species of North American reindeer, genus Rangifer, native to Canada, Alaska, and formerly to Maine and Mass.

  See also: caribou (def. 1)  

  • 1793  (1801)  We saw some reindeer on one of the islands, [which . . .] was accordingly named Isle de Carreboeuf.
  • 1859  (1863)  . . . Carriboeufs frequent this part of the country in large numbers.
  • 1924  The French-Canadian name for the American reindeer is said to come from "carré boeuf" (square ox), or more likely from "Kalibu" (the scratcher), Algonquin, referring to the animal's habit of pawing the snow away to reach the moss below.
  • 1958  The name Cariboo is a corruption of "Car-boeuf," or Elk.