Kermode

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A distinctive subspecies of the American black bear, typically exhibiting a white or cream coat, found mainly in the coastal forests of British Columbia
2. This bear, often called the spirit bear, represents a rare genetic variant that plays an important role in its ecosystem in Canada
3. A unique variety of American black bear characterized by its pale coloring, primarily located in the coastal regions of British Columbia

Etymology: The kermode bear is a white or cream-coated subspecies of the American black bear found in the coastal rainforests of British Columbia, and it is named after Frank Kermode, a museum researcher who studied the animal. Kermode was the director of the Royal Ontario Museum, where his work on the bears helped establish their distinctiveness from other black bears. Kermode's name became attached to the animal in scientific and popular use, so the word "kermode" is a simple eponym: a person's surname turned into the name of a creature. The pale coat is a recessive trait, and only a minority of bears in the region carry it, which is why the bear is sometimes called the spirit bear by local communities.