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"reindeer" is also used as a crossword clue. If that's what you saw, the answer is often caribou (7 letters).
Definitions
A northern deer with large antlers, also called caribou in North America.
Word origin
From Middle English reyndere, reynder, rayne-dere, from Old Norse hreindýri (“reindeer”), from hreinn (“reindeer”) + dýr (“animal”). Compare Dutch rendier (“reindeer”), German Rentier (“reindeer”), Swedish rendjur (“reindeer”), Danish rensdyr (“reindeer”) and French renne (“reindeer”). Related also to displaced Old English hrān (“reindeer”). Unrelated to rein.
Used in a sentence
“Santa Claus' sleigh is supposedly pulled by nine reindeer”
“Here is a prodigious number of wild beaſts, as ſtags, bears, wolves, foxes of various colours, martens, hares, glittens, beavers, otters, elk, and rein deer: the latter is leſs than a stag.”
“Herds of wandering reindeer are frequently seen, and may even hold up the train while they cross the unfenced line to reach their feeding grounds.”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer1 curated clues
01“Santa-team member”8 letters
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