moose

Where does the word "moose" come from? It comes from Eastern Abenaki mos, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Moose’s story begins in Eastern Abenaki: mos meant “moose.” Possibly meaning "he strips off", describing how it strips bark. It reached English by 1600s as moose. Abenaki 'mos', 'he strips bark', from how the animal feeds on trees in winter. Today, moose means the largest living species of deer, native to North America and northern Eurasia.

1. Stage 1 · Eastern Abenaki · pre-1600s mos "moose", possibly meaning "he strips off", describing how it strips bark.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s moose "the large North American deer", Abenaki 'mos', 'he strips bark', from how the animal feeds on trees in winter.