giraffe

See also: Giraffe

English

Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) (sense 1)

Etymology

    Borrowed from Middle French giraffe, from Italian giraffa. Displaced camelopard.

    Pronunciation

    • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /dʒɪˈɹɑːf/
    • (Northern England, Scotland) IPA(key): /dʒɪˈɹaf/
    • (General American) IPA(key): /d͡ʒəˈɹæf/
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Rhymes: -ɑːf

    Noun

    giraffe (plural giraffes or giraffe)

    1. 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.
      Synonym: camelopard
    2. A giraffe unicycle.
    3. (Cockney rhyming slang) A laugh.
      Synonyms: bubble bath, bubble
      Are you having a giraffe?!
    4. (Internet slang, uncommon) A very tall individual.

    Derived terms

    Translations

    Further reading

    Anagrams

    Dutch

    Etymology

    Possibly via German Giraffe, from Italian giraffa, from Arabic زَرَافَة (zarāfa).

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ʒiˈrɑf/
    • Audio:(file)
    • Hyphenation: gi‧raf‧fe
    • Rhymes: -ɑf

    Noun

    giraffe f (plural giraffen or giraffes, diminutive giraffetje n or girafje n)

    1. alternative spelling of giraf

    French

    Pronunciation

    • Audio:(file)

    Noun

    giraffe f (plural giraffes)

    1. archaic spelling of girafe

    Italian

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /d͡ʒiˈraf.fe/
    • Rhymes: -affe
    • Hyphenation: gi‧ràf‧fe

    Noun

    giraffe f

    1. plural of giraffa

    Middle French

    Etymology

      Borrowed from Italian giraffa.

      Noun

      giraffe f (plural giraffes)

      1. giraffe (mammal)

      Descendants