camel

cam·el

noun \ˈka-məl\

Definition of CAMEL

1

: either of two large ruminant mammals (genus Camelus) used as draft and saddle animals in desert regions especially of Africa and Asia: a : the one-humped camel (C. dromedarius) extant only as a domestic or feral animal —called also dromedary b : the 2-humped camel (C. bactrianus syn. C. ferus) of Chinese Turkestan and Mongolia —called also Bactrian camel

2

: a watertight structure used especially to lift submerged ships

3

: a light yellowish brown

Illustration of CAMEL

Origin of CAMEL

Middle English, from Old English & Anglo-French, from Latin camelus, from Greek kamēlos, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew gāmāl camel

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with CAMEL

mammal, stammel, Tamil, trammel