DCHP-1 Online

waskesew Various spellings [< Algonk.: Cree wawaskāsiw]

• 1 n. the North American elk or stag, Cervus canadensis.

  See also: wapiti  

  • 1754  (1907)  The young men hunting, killed several Moose and Waskesew.
  • 1772, 1908  Red Deer plenty hereabouts named Waskesew.
  • 1857  (1863)  [We] killed a fine wapite stag. . . the wawaseshu of the Crees. . . .
  • 1913  The beautifully antlered and magnificent was-cay-sou [is] known variously by the English as red deer and elk.
  • 1920  Red deer--called by the Assiniboines "waskesaw" were in myriads.
  • 1954  "Wawaskesiw" of the Crees was what we call elk or wapiti.

• 2 n. the hide of the wapiti.

  See also: wapiti  

  • 1716  (1965)  There is three Wascashus sent home that's writ upon that I would desire you to give to three several leather dressers to dress. . . .