an extinct Eurasian giant deer of the Pleistocene genus Megaloceros, which had antlers up to 4 metres across
Irish elk in American English
noun
an extinct deerlike mammal of the genus Megaceros (Megaloceros), of the Pleistocene Epoch, having in the male extremely large, broad antlers
Word origin
[1815–25]This word is first recorded in the period 1815–25. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: aesthetic, diorama, heuristic, reamer, trolley