American elk

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Amer′ican elk′, 

1. Zoology, Mammals elk (def. 2).

• 1765–75, American.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

elk /ɛlk/   n. [countable] , pl. elks, (esp. when thought of as a group) elk.

1. Mammals Also called wapiti. a large North American deer.
2. Mammals a moose.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

elk  (elk), n., pl. elks, (esp. collectively) elk for 1, 2.

1. Mammals Also called European elk. the moose, Alces alces.
2. Mammals Also called American elk, wapiti. a large North American deer, Cervus canadensis, the male of which has large, spreading antlers.
3. Clothing a pliable leather used for sport shoes, made originally of elk hide but now of calfskin or cowhide tanned and smoked to resemble elk hide.
4. (cap.) a member of a fraternal organization (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks)that supports or contributes to various charitable causes.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English eolc, eolh; cognate with German Elch (Old High German el(a)ho), Latin alcēs, Greek álkē

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

elk / ɛlk/ noun (elks, elk)

1. a large deer, Alces alces, of N Europe and Asia, having large flattened palmate antlers: also occurs in North America, where it is called a moose
2. American elk ⇒
   another name for wapiti

Etymology: Old English eolh; related to Old Norse elgr, Old High German elaho, Latin alcēs, Greek alkē, elaphos deer