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giraffe

(jə raf′, -räf′)

either of two species (genus Giraffa, family Giraffidae) of African ruminants, with a very long neck and legs: the tallest of existing animals, they often reach a height of 5.5 m (c. 18 ft)

Origin: Fr < It giraffa < Ar zarāfa

See giraffe in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. gi·raffes or giraffe

An African ruminant mammal (Giraffa camelopardalis) having a very long neck and legs, a tan coat with orange-brown to black blotches, and short horns. It is the tallest land animal, often reaching a height of 5 meters (16 ¹/₂ feet), and feeds principally by browsing in the tree canopy of wooded grasslands.

Origin:

Origin: French girafe

Origin: , from Italian giraffa

Origin: , from Arabic dialectal zirāfa

Origin: , probably of African origin

Related Forms: