Main Entry: oka·pi

Pronunciation: \ō-ˈkä-pē\

Function: noun

Etymology: Mvuba (language spoken west of Lake Edward, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Date: 1900

: an African ungulate mammal (Okapia johnstoni) that is closely related to the giraffe but has a relatively short neck, a coat typically of solid reddish chestnut on the trunk, yellowish white on the cheeks, and purplish-black and cream rings on the upper parts of the legs

[okapi illustration]