DCHP-2

carcajou in early records of fur traders especially, carcajon, carcaseu, casacajou, carcassause [< Algonk.; prob. Montagnais kākachu through Cdn F] DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

• 1a n.

  the wolverine (def. la), a cunning robber of traps and caches, found in most parts of the Canadian forest.

  See also: quincajou  wolverine (def. 1a)  

• 1b n.

  the fur of the carcajou.

• 2 n. — Obs.

  the badger, Taxidea taxus.

  • In Canadian sources, this word is found only in reference to the wolverine. However, in some parts of the northern U.S.A., the term has been used for both the badger and the lynx.

• 3 n.

  a treacherous, dishonest person; a thief, a rogue.