zebu

C2 Topic:Animals
US /ˈzi.b(j)u/ UK /ˈziː.b(j)uː/
noun Freq #131536

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a domesticated humped form of cattle, Bos taurus indicus, adapted to hot climates and widely kept in South Asia, Africa, and elsewhere

    The zebu's shoulder hump and loose dewlap help distinguish it from many taurine cattle.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a domesticated humped form... humped cattleindicine cattleIndian ox
Word family
Forms Zebus
Related forms cattleBos indicusoxbovine

Etymology

Borrowed through French zebu, probably ultimately from Tibetan mdzo, a cattle-yak hybrid, with the exact transmission uncertain. English uses zebu for the humped indicine form of domestic cattle.

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