Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Either of two chiefly domesticated ruminant mammals of the genus Camelus, the Bactrian camel or the dromedary, having a humped back and long neck, and used in northern Africa, the Middle East, and Asia as a beast of burden and a source of wool, milk, and meat.
- noun A device used to raise sunken objects, consisting of a hollow structure that is submerged, attached tightly to the object, and pumped free of water.
- noun Sports A spin in figure skating that is performed in an arabesque or modified arabesque position.
- noun A tan or yellowish brown.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A large ruminant quadruped of the family Camelidœ, genus Camelus, used in Asia and Africa as a beast of burden.
- noun A water-tight structure placed beneath a ship or vessel to raise it in the water, in order to assist its passage over a shoal or bar, or to enable it to be navigated in shallow water.
- noun A French imitation of this fabric; a warm and light woolen cloth with a gloss, but having long hairs standing up upon it. Dict. of Needlework.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Zoöl.) A large ruminant used in Asia and Africa for carrying burdens and for riding. The camel is remarkable for its ability to go a long time without drinking. Its hoofs are small, and situated at the extremities of the toes, and the weight of the animal rests on the callous. The dromedary (
Camelus dromedarius ) has one bunch on the back, while the Bactrian camel (Camelus Bactrianus ) has two. The llama, alpaca, and vicuña, of South America, belong to a related genus (Auchenia). - noun (Naut.) A water-tight structure (as a large box or boxes) used to assist a vessel in passing over a shoal or bar or in navigating shallow water. By admitting water, the camel or camels may be sunk and attached beneath or at the sides of a vessel, and when the water is pumped out the vessel is lifted.
- noun (Zoöl.) the ostrich.
- noun (Zoöl.) the mantis.
- noun (Bot.) a low, leguminous shrub (
Alhagi maurorum ) of the Arabian desert, from which exudes a sweetish gum, which is one of the substances calledmanna .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
beast of burden , much used indesert areas, of the genusCamelus . - noun A light
brownish color,tan . - noun Loaded
vessels lashed tightly, one on each side of a another vessel, and then emptied to reduce the draught of the ship in the middle.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun cud-chewing mammal used as a draft or saddle animal in desert regions
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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For instance, in the passage about a camel going through the eye of a needle, it will make a difference in the sense, whether you read in the Greek word for _camel_ the oriental animal of that name, or a ship's cable; but no difference at all arises in the spiritual doctrine.
Theological Essays and Other Papers — Volume 1 Thomas De Quincey 1822
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Unless you've been hiding under an unfashionable rock for the past year, you'll have the word camel firmly rooted in your fashionista lexicon.
Philippa Young: Camel: It Doesn't Matter if You're Black or White Philippa Young 2011
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Everyone has heard the joke that a camel is a horse designed by a committee.
Axelrod slams Romney 2009
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They do say a camel is a horse designed by a committee … on September 7, 2008 at 11: 57 am | Reply Bob
Day Tripper (It takes them so long to find out) « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2008
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Like the camel, we have an unusual structure, but remember that the camel is an exceedingly intelligent, useful animal which has successfully resisted displacement by modern transportation methods.
Formula For Growth 1960
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This evaporation principle was also adopted to lower the temperature inside ambulances by means of a cuscus tatty; this consisted of a four-sided wooden frame with chicken wire front and rear, the cavity was filled with what we called camel thorn.
Coming of Age: 1939-1946 John Cox
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Though the camel is a heavy beast of burden, the dromedary, which is either of the same or of a kindred species, is used by the natives of Asia and Africa on all occasions which require celerity.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1206
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Africa and Arabia, the camel is a sacred and precious gift.
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1206
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If a camel is being used to bring books, how else might children around the world get library books?
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The article explained how a camel is being used to deliver books to remote areas near Garissa, Kenya.
sonofgroucho commented on the word camel
Apparently, the doctors' favourite cigarette!
December 17, 2007
bilby commented on the word camel
I don't smoke cud-chewing saddle mammals.
September 19, 2008
bilby commented on the word camel
Cats, you're aware, can repose in a chair,
Chickens can roost upon rails;
Puppies are able to sleep in a stable,
And oysters can slumber in pails.
But no one supposes
A poor Camel dozes -
Any place does for me!
- Charles Carryl, 'The Plaint Of The Camel'.
December 5, 2008
brobbins commented on the word camel
Gimel (3rd letter in Hebrew alphabet, pudenda, vagina
July 24, 2009
hernesheir commented on the word camel
Argent, a camel passing through a ford of water proper -- heraldic blazoning of the arms of the town/parish of CAMELFORD, Cornwall.
October 3, 2011