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caribou n also cariboo, carribou, ~ deer, karaboo. Developed from
caribou [ = North American reindeer]; OED ~ (1774-); O
Sup2 (1672-); DAE [1610-]; DC (1665-) for sense 1; DC
~ fly Nfld (1835) for cpd in sense 2.
1 The species of deer
native to Newfoundland (Rangifer tarandus); DEER.
1823-4
Edin Phil J x, 160 The western division being nearly destitute of wood, affords
pasture to numerous herds of deer (the Carribou). Of these animals there are here
many thousands; indeed, the country seems covered with them. They migrate eastward to the
woody districts in winter, and return westward very early in spring. Their flesh forms
almost the sole subsistence of the Indians. [1831-9] 1926 AUDUBON 144 At that period
[when winter approaches] the karaboos come towards the shore. 1875 GRANT 217 We met no
traces of Red, or of Micmac Indians, or of the wild cariboo deer. 1897 WILLSON 136 The
caribou or reindeer are finer than the similar breed of Norway. 1913 DUGMORE 13
Before going into the life of the Newfoundland Caribou let us glance at the animal
itself, for he is a stranger to most people. He is known scientifically as Rangifer
tarandus, or perhaps more specifically as Rangifer terrae novae. By the
general public who know the animal at all, he is called a Woodland Caribou, the name
being derived from the Indian 'maccarib,' or 'maccaribo,' or'caribo,' and not as Sir John
Richardson would have us believe from the French 'Quarré boeuf.' The spelling that
is now used—'caribou'—dates at least as far back as 1609, when it was used by
Les Cabot. T 417/20-67 The only time you can travel for caribou is in the wintertime.
2 Attrib, cpd caribou berry: fruit of the white and
rose mandarin (Streptopus amplexifolius, S. roseus) (1956 ROULEAU 27).
caribou feed: Canadian burnet (Sanguisorba
canadensis) (1956 ROULEAU 27).
caribou fly: deer fly
(Chrysops excitans).
[1831-9] 1926 AUDUBON 344 How
different from a camp on the shores of the Mississippi ... where musquitoes, although
plentiful enough, are not accompanied by carraboo flies. 1911 PROWSE 43 During the summer
the skin is simply riddled with the pupae of the small caribou fly, which gives the
animal no little discomfort. Another pest is the great caribou fly, which lives in the
nostrils, the palate and the throat until August.
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