1806, Americanism; < Shawneewa·piti literally, white rump (equivalent to Proto-Algonquian *wa·p- white + *-etwiy- rump); introduced as an E word by U.S. physician and naturalist Benjamin S. Barton
British Dictionary definitions for wapiti
wapiti
/ˈwɒpɪtɪ/
noun (pl) -tis
1.
a large deer, Cervus canadensis, with large much-branched antlers, native to North America and now also common in the South Island of New Zealand Also called American elk
Word Origin
C19: from Shawnee, literally: white deer, from wap (unattested) white; from the animal's white tail and rump