camel

Meaning

Noun

1. A mammalian beast of burden, much used in desert areas, of the genus Camelus.
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.
4. (ethnic, slur) 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.

Adj

Of a light brown color like that of a camel.

Synonyms

dromedary

caisson

hunchback

idler

relating

loaf around

Translations

chameau

🐫

camello

🐫

Kamel

🐫

cammello

🐫

kameel

🐫

καμήλα

camelo

🐫

deve

🐫

camell

🐫

camelus

🐫

جمل

hecin

camèl

dromedario

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkæməl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: camel

Inherited from Old English: camel

Cognate with Old French: chamel

Cognate with French: chameau

Cognate with Arabic: جَمَل

Cognate with Hebrew: גמל

Cognate with Aramaic: ܓܡܠܐ

Cognate with Coptic: ϭⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ

In summary

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 (camoul). As a marine device, from Dutch. As an ethnic slur, short for camelfucker, camel jockey, etc.