Adjacent Words

Irish elk definitions

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Britannica Concise

Any member of a genus (Megaloceros) of extinct giant deer commonly found as fossils in Pleistocene deposits (1.6 million-10,000 years ago) in Europe and Asia. About the size of a modern moose, the Irish elk had the largest antlers of any form of deer known, in some specimens about 13 ft (4 m) across. It may have survived until c.700-500 BC.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Irish I"rish, a. [AS. ?risc, fr. ?ras the Irish. Cf. Aryan, Erse.] Of or pertaining to Ireland or to its inhabitants; produced in Ireland. Irish elk. (Zo["o]l.) See under Elk. Irish moss. (a) (Bot.) Carrageen. (b) A preparation of the same made into a blanc mange. Irish poplin. See Poplin. Irish potato, the ordinary white potato, so called because it is a favorite article of food in Ireland. Irish reef, or Irishman's reef (Naut.), the head of a sail tied up. Irish stew, meat, potatoes, and onions, cut in small pieces and stewed.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Elk Elk, n. [Icel. elgr; akin to Sw. elg, AS. eolh, OHG. elaho, MHG. elch, cf. L. alces; perh. akin to E. eland.] (Zo["o]l.) A large deer, of several species. The European elk (Alces machlis or Cervus alces) is closely allied to the American moose. The American elk, or wapiti (Cervus Canadensis), is closely related to the European stag. See Moose, and Wapiti. Irish elk (Paleon.), a large, extinct, Quaternary deer (Cervus giganteus) with widely spreading antlers. Its remains have been found beneath the peat of swamps in Ireland and England. See Illustration in Appendix; also Illustration of Antler. Cape elk (Zo["o]l.), the eland.