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camel definition

camel (kam′əl)

noun

  1. either of two species of large, domesticated ruminants (genus Camelus) with a humped back, long neck, and large, cushioned feet: capable of storing water in its body tissue, the camel is the common beast of burden in Asian and African deserts
  2. a watertight cylinder used to raise sunken ships, wrecks, etc.
  3. Naut. a float, usually consisting of a log or logs, placed alongside a wharf, pier, etc. to protect docking ships

Etymology: ME < OE or OFr < L camelus < Gr kamēlos < Heb or Phoen gāmāl; ult. < ? Bab

adjective

of the tan color of camel's hair

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms camel idiom

camel Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • swallow: To get them to swallow the camel of abolishing the pound, there is not a spoonful of sugar in sight.

Preposition: through

  • eye: No doubt they're now experimenting with pushing camels through eyes of needles.

Adjective modifier

  • Bactrian: The other new addition to the Zoo is a two-week old baby Bactrian camel, Becky.

Modifies a noun

  • herder: The third main black African group in Darfur, the Zaghawa, are like the Arabs largely camel herders.

Noun used with modifier

  • pantomime: The time they are aiming to beat as Camella, the pantomime camel, is 4 hours 36 mins.

Possessives

  • hump: Then on to Linda's Arabic dancing - great being in the desert and dancing like a camel's hump.
camel usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

camel quotes

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

-Bible (NewTestament)

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

-Bible (NewTestament)

Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

-Bible (NewTestament)

camel quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"camel." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/camel>

APA Style

camel. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/camel

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