camel

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A large desert animal with one or two humps on its back, used for carrying people and goods.

   They crossed the desert on the backs of camels.

2. 2
   noun

   A light yellowish-brown colour.

   She wore a coat in a soft camel colour.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Camel comes from Greek kamēlos, probably borrowed from an Arabic or Hebrew word. It entered Old English and replaced the earlier native term olfend.

From Middle English camel, through Old English camel and Old Northern French camel (Old French chamel, modern French chameau), from Latin camēlus, from Ancient Greek κάμηλος (kámēlos), from a Semitic source, ultimately from Proto-Semitic *gamal-; compare Arabic جَمَل (jamal), Hebrew גמל (gamál), Aramaic ܓܡܠܐ (gamlā), Coptic ϭⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ (čamoul). As a marine device, from Dutch. As an ethnic slur, short for camelfucker, camel jockey, etc.

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary