Camel Meaning
/ˈkæml̩/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA mammalian beast of burden, much used in desert areas, of the genus Camelus.
nounA light brownish color, like that of a camel (also called camel brown).
Sentence Examples
A camel can store a large amount of water in the hump on its back.
A camel is, so to speak, a ship on the desert.
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the hot desert, a ____ can travel for days without drinking water.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ is a large animal that can travel for days without water.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English camel, through Old English camel and Old Northern French camel (Old French chamel, modern French chameau), from Latin camēlus, from Ancient Greek κάμηλος (kámēlos), from a Semitic source, ultimately from Proto-Semitic *gamal-; compare Arabic جَمَل (jamal), Hebrew גמל (gamál), Aramaic ܓܡܠܐ (gamlā), Coptic ϭⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ (čamoul). As a marine device, from Dutch. As an ethnic slur, short for camelfucker, camel jockey, etc.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Returne our Mules and emptie Camels backe,
That we may trauell into Siria, […]"
— c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
"Achilles! a drayman, a porter, a very camel."
— c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
"As sometimes happens in countries of small civilisation, a leader arose from among the Arabs. None knew from where he sprang, and it was said that he had been a camel driver."
— 1907, W. Somerset Maugham, chapter IV, in The Explorer:
"The fers and camel can reach all the cells of one colour. The others are more restricted; the dummy cannot move at all, and the commuter can only move back and forth between two cells."
— 2010 August 21, G. P. Jelliss, “Simple Chess Variants”, in Mayhematics, page 9:
"[…] try to select accessories that are in the same color family as your coat," says millinery designer Patricia Underwood. To pick up the weave of a brown tweed jacket, for instance, choose a camel hat and black gloves."
— 1999, New Woman, volume 29, page 212:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the hot desert, a ____ can travel for days without drinking water.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ is a large animal that can travel for days without water.