1. One of the species of the North American deer (Cervus canadensis) which is quite large with long branching antlers: "In the museum of the Audubon Society, Mary read about the wapiti, also called the American elk, being grayish brown or light brown in color and having a white tail and rump: "The wapitis live in the Rocky Mountains and in southern Canada and now they are also found on New Zealand's South Island."

"The wapiti is also the second largest deer in America; the biggest related animal is the moose."

2. Etymology: from the Shawnee language waapiti; literally,"white deer, white rump"; to distinguish it from the much darker moose.