reindeer \rein"deer`\ r=an"d=er, n. icel. hreinn reindeer
   + e. deer. icel. hreinn is of lapp or finnish origin; cf.
   lappish reino pasturage. formerly written also raindeer,
   and ranedeer. zool.
   any ruminant of the genus rangifer, of the deer family,
   found in the colder parts of both the eastern and western
   hemispheres, and having long irregularly branched antlers,
   with the brow tines palmate.
   1913 webster

   note: the common european species rangifer tarandus is
         domesticated in lapland. the woodland reindeer or
         caribou rangifer caribou is found in canada and
         maine see caribou. the barren ground reindeer or
         caribou rangifer groenlandicus, of smaller size, is
         found on the shores of the arctic ocean, in both
         hemispheries.
         1913 webster

   reindeer moss bot., a gray branching lichen cladonia
      rangiferina which forms extensive patches on the ground
      in arctic and even in north temperature regions. it is the
      principal food of the lapland reindeer in winter.

   reindeer period geol., a name sometimes given to a part
      of the paleolithic era when the reindeer was common over
      central europe.
      1913 webster
see also:
raindeer ranedeer rangifer rangifer tarandus rangifer caribou caribou 
rangifer groenlandicus reindeer moss cladonia rangiferina reindeer period 

cladonia rangiferina
     n : an erect grayish branching lichen of arctic and even some
         north temperate regions constituting the chief food for
         reindeer and caribou and sometimes being eaten by humans
         syn: reindeer moss, reindeer lichen, arctic moss
see also:
reindeer moss reindeer lichen arctic moss