noun pl. zebras -·bras or zebra -·bra

1. any of several swift African perissodactylous mammals (family Equidae) of the same genus (Equus) as the horse and ass, having dark stripes on a white or tawny body
2. a butterfly (Heliconius charitonius) with black wings crossed by several yellowish bands
   in full zebra butterfly
3. ☆ Sports, Slang a referee who wears a vertically striped black-and-white shirt

Etymology: Port, zebra, earlier used of a wild ass (now extinct): said to be of Congolese orig., but prob. ult. < L equiferus, wild horse < equus (see hippo-) + ferus (see fierce)