camel

noun

cam·​el ˈka-məl 

plural camels

1

: either of two large ruminant (see ruminant entry 1) mammals (genus Camelus) that have one or two large humps of stored fat on the back and are 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 : dromedary

b

: the 2-humped camel (C. bactrianus synonym C. ferus) of desert and steppe regions of northwestern China and southwestern Mongolia : bactrian camel

2

: a watertight structure used especially to lift submerged ships

3

: a light yellowish brown

4

a

: camel hair sense 2

"… So we're going to look for more luxury fabrics—cashmere, camel, alpaca and … lambswools."

—Paul Diamond

—usually used before another noun

a genuine camel coat

b

: leather made from the skin of a camel

They all have four-digit price tags and are crafted from luxe leathers like buffalo, calfskin and camel.

—Georgina Safe

—usually used before another noun

camel leather

Illustration of camel

• 1 dromedary
• 2 Bactrian camel

Examples of camel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Banana Republic Pura wool cashmere What's better than a timeless camel coat? —Porter Simmons, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2023

Lin rides a camel in the desert after meeting a group of Bedouins by a well in the desert. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 22 Nov. 2023

The most popular are short and candid—a teapot brewing, an affectionate camel, or the shifting hues of a desert sunrise. —Emma Pearson, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Nov. 2023

It’s surrounded by a spacious sectional from Room & Board with two Matra camel velvet lounge chairs from CB2 across from it. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2023

This fanny pack comes in 12 stylish colors, from onyx to camel, dune, dark moss, heather gray, and storm. —Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 26 Oct. 2023

She was photographed with her husband, Dax Shepard, wearing a cozy fall look with a black leather purse slung across her body over a long camel coat. —Tanisha Pina, Peoplemag, 10 Nov. 2023

Share [Findings] Researchers who wear orange catch more anoles, and Australia began culling thousands of camels with helicopter snipers. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 8 Nov. 2023

Over in Toronto, the camel brown sneakers with trendy white outsoles have won over shoppers, while the all black shoes are all the rage in New York. —Kylee McGuigan, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

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 the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing camel

• camel's hair
• Bactrian camel
• camel hair
• the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back

• camel's hair
• Bactrian camel
• camel hair
• the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back

Kids Definition

camel

noun

cam·​el ˈkam-əl 

: either of two large cud-chewing mammals used for carrying burdens and for riding in desert regions especially of Africa and Asia:

a

: dromedary

b

: a two-humped camel of central Asia

called also Bactrian camel