giraffe

English

/dʒɪˈɹɑːf/, /d͡ʒəˈɹæf/

noun
Definitions
  • A ruminant, of the genus Giraffa, of the African savannah with long legs and highly elongated neck, which make it the tallest living animal; yellow fur patterned with dark spots, often in the form of a network; and two or more short, skin-covered horns, so-called; strictly speaking the horn-like projections are ossicones.
  • A giraffe unicycle.
  • (Cockney rhyming slang) A laugh.

Etymology

Derived from French giraffe derived from Persian زُرنَاپَا.

Origin

Persian

زُرنَاپَا

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms