Main Entry:

ze·bra

Pronunciation:

\ˈzē-brə, Canada & British also ˈze-\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural zebras

Etymology:

Portuguese zebra, zebro wild ass, perhaps from Latin equiferus, kind of wild horse, from equus horse + ferus wild — more at equine, fierce

Date:

1600

1plural also zebra : any of several fleet African mammals (Equus burchelli, E. grevyi, and E. zebra) related to the horse but distinctively and conspicuously patterned in stripes of black or dark brown and white or buff2 [from the shirts patterned in black-and-white stripes worn by football referees] : referee 23: zebra crossing

— ze·brine \-ˌbrīn\ adjective or noun