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]