REINDEER

[Dr. Goodword]

• reindeer •

Pronunciation: rayn-deer • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: A deer (Rangifer tarandus) with large racks of fuzzy antlers found in and around the Arctic Circle. In Lapland (Finland) the Saami people live by herding and breeding reindeer for their milk, hide, meat, and other products.

Notes: Like deer itself, this Good Word does not mark its plural: one reindeer, two reindeer, millions of reindeer, though some dictionaries have caved in and allow reindeers.

In Play: Those of us who live outside the Arctic Circle see very few reindeer other than cutouts of them on lawns at Yuletide. In the early 19th century Saint Nicholas was still riding on horseback. That was his traditional means of transportation until 1823 when Clement Moore wrote his famous book, 'Twas the Night before Christmas, which put Santa in a sleigh driven by eight flying reindeer. These eight were joined by a ninth, Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, who originated in a marketing campaign by Montgomery Ward department stores in the 40s.

Word History: Today's word was imported from Old Norse hreindyri from hreinn "horn" + dyri "animal". The Swedes today call it a rendjur or just ren, while the Danes say rensdyr, and the Germans, Rentier. In Middle English the word deer meant simply "animal", like its German cousin, Tier, and its slightly more distant cousin, Russian zver', do today. So, when Shakespeare speaks of, "mice and rats, and such small deer" for Edgar's diet in King Lear, he is not upgrading the menu suggested by the first two words.

[LukeJavan8]

National Geographic has done extensive stories about
the Saami and the reindeer. A remarkable people.

[Bailey]

I wonder if it's true that its the female reindeer that have antlers in winter?

mark Bailey

[LukeJavan8]

I found this regarding female reindeer and antlers:

http://www.wonderclub.com/Wildlife/mamm ... ndeer.html


(at the bottom in yellow box)

[saparris]

We're seeing snowdeer in the Southern US, occasionally mixed with rein.

[LukeJavan8]

Yea, verily, rein and snow in caroliner.
So you all had a white Christmas? Santa's sleigh was
roof parked??

[saparris]

According to the weather wizards, the first truly while Christmas since 1963. Unfortunately, it also came with a stomach virus that has made its way down many a chimney.

[LukeJavan8]

Blame it on the reindeer.
Red noses, but not just on Rudolf. Use Puffs.

[saparris]

Counting the two of us plus children, one son-in law and two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren, there are twelve. Nine have succumbed within the last week, and one is snowed in in Boston. Everyone's better, but not the Christmas we had planned.

Puff and Charmin supplies have been depleted and restocked numerous times.

[LukeJavan8]

So you see: be careful what you wish for: next time
you hear "White Christmas" remember what comes with it.
And remember we who live in "frozenwastesistan".

[saparris]

Praise Santa and his reindeer that I live where 4 inches of snow are enough to call of schools.

[LukeJavan8]

Talk about wimpy. Get tough on those kids!

[LukeJavan8]

To which I might add a new word.
This eve the Governor of PA was being interviewed on
a news channel, with all the typical chatter of a news channel,
and the anchor was discussing the cancellation of the
NFL game because of the weather there. The
governor called it the 'wussification' of America: cancelling
an NFL game because of a little snow.

So, calling off school for an inch or snow: probably just
more "wussification".