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 fatSee Arabian camel, Bactrian camel
a float attached to a vessel to increase its buoyancySee also caisson (def. 3)
a raft or float used as a fender between a vessel and a wharf
a fawn colour
(as adjective)a camel dress
Word Origin for camel
Old English, from Latin camēlus, from Greek kamēlos, of Semitic origin; related to Arabic jamal
Old English camel, perhaps via Old North French camel (Old French chamel, Modern French chameau), from Latin camelus, from Greek kamelos, from Hebrew or Phoenician gamal, perhaps related to Arabic jamala "to bear."
Another Old English word for the beast was olfend, apparently based on confusion of camels with elephants in a place and time when both were known only from travelers' vague descriptions. The Arabian have one hump (the lighter variety is the dromedary); the Bactrian have two.
