caribou
UK[ˈkær.ɪ.buː]US[ˈker.ə.buː]
n
a large north american reindeer.
Etymology
the word 'caribou' entered english via canadian french in the early 17th century. it originates from the mi'kmaq word 'qalipu', meaning 'snow-shoveller', a vivid description of the animal's habit of pawing through snow to find lichen. the innu (montagnais) term 'xalibu', with a similar meaning, is also a likely source. this loanword represents a direct borrowing from indigenous languages of north america, preserving both the name and a key behavioral characteristic of the animal it describes.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from canadian french, which borrowed it from an algonquian language (likely mi'kmaq or innu). it is not productively segmented using english or classical morphemes.
Examples
the caribou herd migrates hundreds of miles across the tundra each year.
conservation efforts are crucial for protecting the woodland caribou population.
we spotted a solitary caribou grazing near the treeline.