Kodiak bear
1
5.5
- noun
- /ˈkoʊdiæk bɛr/
- US
:
oso Kodiak
- The Kodiak bear is one of the largest subspecies of brown bears, known for its immense size and strength.
Examples
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I saw him (or her) and a few other Kodiak bears at the Olympic Game Farm in Sequim, Washington, on the northwest coast of the state near Port Angeles.
Blog text (14) -
Have you ever seen a Kodiak bear?
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- But he's a Kodiak bear.
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State Forensics say it's the size of a Kodiak bear, or something that could hold her down with its mouth.
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Many tourists come to Kodiak Island specifically to see the majestic Kodiak bear in its natural habitat.
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The Kodiak bear can weigh up to 1,500 pounds, making it one of the most powerful land predators in Alaska.
Synonyms
A very large brown bear that lives on coasts of Alaska and British Columbia
A very large brown bear that lives on Kodiak Island and nearby coasts of Alaska and British Columbia
A very large brown bear that lives near the sea in Alaska, especially on Kodiak Island
A very large brown bear that lives on the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derived from combining the place/name 'Kodiak' with 'bear' — the modifier indicates a bear from the Kodiak region (a specific, very large subspecies). Place-name + animal constructions are compositional and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Kodiak bear comes from Kodiak Island in Alaska, where very large bears live and people began using the island's name for them. That's why the name now means 'a very large brown bear from Kodiak Island'.