Forms: 5–7 elke, (6 alke), 6 elcke, 7– elk. See also ALCE. [Of obscure history: the existing word is not the normal phonetic representative of OE. elch, elh (eolh), and is probably ad. MHG. elch (:—OHG. elaho). The relation of the ON. elg-r (Sw. elg):—type *algi-z to the OE. and German words (:—types *elho-, *elhon-) is uncertain. The Eng. form alke was influenced by L. alces, Gr. ἄλκη (cf. ALCE), which appear only as the name of an animal living in northern Europe (app. the elk), and are probably adopted from Teut. or some other northern lang.]

1

  1.  The largest existing animal of the deer kind (Alces malchis), inhabiting large portions of Northern Europe and of North America. The American variety is also called the MOOSE. (In quot. 1541 the name seems to be applied to some English species of deer.)

2

[a. 700.  Epinal Gloss., 233. Cer[v]us, elch.

3

a. 800.  Corpus Gloss., 443. Cer[v]us, elh. Ibid., 2054. Tragelaphus, elch.

4

a. 900.  Leiden Gloss., Damma, elha.]

5

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, D iij b. The symplest of theis iij will slee an Hynde calfe, a Fawn, a Roo, an Elke.

6

1541.  Act 33 Hen. VIII., c. 6. It shall be lawfull … to have, exercise, and vse their handgounnes … so that it be at no maner of deere … or wild elke.

7

[1555.  Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 305. Bisontes which in theyr toonge [Swedish] they caule Elg (that is) wild asses.]

8

1577.  Harrison, Descr. Eng., III. v. (1877), II. 29. Plowing with vres … and alkes a thing commonlie vsed in the east countries.

9

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 211. The Elke on the contrary is most impatient of all heate.

10

1629.  Capt. Smith, Trav. & Adv., xv. 28. These Tartars possesse many … plaines, wherein feed Elkes, Bisones, Horses … and divers others.

11

1682.  Milton, Hist. Mosc., ii. (1851), 482. Those Messengers … made report of … people riding on Elks.

12

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist., II. 82. It is known in Europe by the name of the elk, and in America by that of the Moose-deer.

13

1836.  W. Irving, Astoria (1849), 196. They saw … frequent gangs of stately elks.

14

1853.  Kingsley, Hypatia, II. vii. 182. Followed by … elks from beyond the Danube.

15

  2.  Applied to certain species of deer: e.g., to the ‘Irish Elk,’ an extinct animal (Cervus megaceros), which inhabited Ireland in prehistoric times; and to the Canadian Deer or Wapiti (Cervus canadensis).

16

1884.  Mary Hickson, Irel. in 17th C., I. Introd. 11. Celts and Saxons being as extinct in Ireland as the ancient elk.

17

  3.  A species of antelope: the ELAND or Cape-elk.

18

1731.  Medley, Kolben’s Cape G. Hope, II. 110. The haunts of the African Elks are generally on high mountains, on good pasture grounds, and near good springs.

19

1786.  trans. Sparrman’s Voy. Cape G. Hope, II. 204. The Cape elk, or more properly the elk-antilope … is a name given by the colonists to a species of gazel.

20

  4.  Comb. as elk-skin; also elk-bark, Magnolia glauca; elk(’s)-horn, a kind of fern, Platycerium alcicorne; elk-horse, a horse employed in hunting the elk; elk-nut, Hamiltonia oleifera; elk-tree, Andromeda arborea; elk-wood Andromeda arborea and Magnolia macrophylla; elk-yard, a kind of habitation made by the elk.

21

1865.  Gosse, Land & Sea (1874), 330, note. The *Elk-horn fern.

22

1882.  J. Hardy, in Proc. Brew. Nat. Club, IX. 434. The Elk’s-horn fern.

23

1888.  F. Schwatka, in Century Mag., Jan., 451/2. The *‘elk’ horses received three-quarters forage at night and a quarter forage in the morning.

24

1759.  Harte, Gust. Adolphus, II. 321. He wore … an *elkskin butt-waistcoat.

25

1868.  J. G. Wood, Homes without H., xxxi. 612. That curious temporary habitation … popularly termed an *Elk-yard.

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