camel
nounadjectivenouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈkæml̩//
- United States//ˈkæm(ə)l//
A mammalian beast of burden, much used in desert areas, of the genus Camelus.
noun
- 1
A mammalian beast of burden, much used in desert areas, of the genus Camelus.
Returne our Mules and emptie Camels backe, That we may trauell into Siria, […]
It is as hard to come, as for a Cammell / To threed the poſterne of a ſmall needles eie: […]
Achilles! a drayman, a porter, a very camel.
As sometimes happens in countries of small civilisation, a leader arose from among the Arabs. None knew from where he sprang, and it was said that he had been a camel driver.
- 2
A light brownish color, like that of a camel (also called camel brown).
- 3
A vessel or tank, typically paired, used to make an object more buoyant.
Near-synonym: pontoon
- 4
A person of Middle Eastern origin.
- 5
A fairy chess piece that is moved three squares in one direction and one at right angles to that direction in a single move, leaping over any intervening pieces.
The fers and camel can reach all the cells of one colour. The others are more restricted; the dummy cannot move at all, and the commuter can only move back and forth between two cells.
Etymology
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.
adjective
- 1
Of a light brown color like that of a camel.
[…] try to select accessories that are in the same color family as your coat," says millinery designer Patricia Underwood. To pick up the weave of a brown tweed jacket, for instance, choose a camel hat and black gloves.
noun
- 1
obsoleteSynonym of giraffe.
Etymology
Borrowed from Afrikaans kameel.
Forms
- plural
- camels
camel · A mammalian beast of burden, much used in desert areas, of the genus Camelus.
Camel · A river in Cornwall, England, which flows into the Atlantic…Camelot · A mythical location in England and the stronghold of King…camera · A device for taking still or moving pictures or photographs.