giraffe
/dʒɪˈrɑːf
/ /dʒɪˈraf/noun (plural same or giraffes)
A large African mammal with a very long neck and forelegs, having a coat patterned with brown patches separated by lighter lines. It is the tallest living animal.
- Giraffa camelopardalis, family Giraffidae.
- The first deer and giraffes also appear, along with the first hyenas.
- The roads and pathways are lined with sculpted, totem-like lamp-posts in the shape of equine beasts, including giraffes, horses or deer.
Origin
Late 16th century: from French girafe, Italian giraffa, or Spanish and Portuguese girafa, based on Arabic zarāfa. The animal was known in Europe in the medieval period, and isolated instances of names for it based on the Arabic are recorded in Middle English, when it was commonly called the camelopard.
The giraffe was known in Europe in the medieval period, but people then called it the camelopard (see camel). The modern name is from Arabic zarāfa.