camel

American  

[kam-uhl] / ˈkæm əl /

noun

1. either of two large, humped, ruminant quadrupeds of the genus Camelus, of the Old World.

2. a color ranging from yellowish tan to yellowish brown.

3. Also called camel spin.  Skating. a spin done in an arabesque position.

4. Nautical.

   1. Also called pontoon.  a float for lifting a deeply laden vessel sufficiently to allow it to cross an area of shallow water.

   2. a float serving as a fender between a vessel and a pier or the like.

   3. caisson.

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camel British  

/ ˈkæməl /

noun

1. either of two cud-chewing artiodactyl mammals of the genus Camelus : family Camelidae. They are adapted for surviving long periods without food or water in desert regions, esp by using humps on the back for storing fat See Arabian camel Bactrian camel

2. a float attached to a vessel to increase its buoyancy See also caisson

3. a raft or float used as a fender between a vessel and a wharf

4. 1. a fawn colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a camel dress

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camel Idioms  

1. see under last straw.

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Other Word Forms

• camellike adjective

Etymology

Origin of camel

before 950; Middle English, Old English < Latin camēlus < Greek kámēlos < Semitic; compare Hebrew gāmāl

Example Sentences

They tinkered with his crossovers and his camel spin.

From Los Angeles Times

Within a year she was already doing a camel spin and as she got better, her mother began setting her up with a succession of coaches.

From Los Angeles Times

"Children are not getting an adequate diet because of this drought...they depend on camel and goat milk but there is now no milk at all," said hospital nutritionist Khalid Ahmed Wethow.

From Barron's

For some owners and fans, the Dodgers' lavish spending on Tucker may be the $240 million straw that broke the camel's back.

From Barron's

“Data center, the way you should think about it, it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

From Barron's

Related Words

• cream
• khaki
• off-white
• tan
• taupe