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dromedary

[drom-i-der-ee, druhm-]
noun, plural drom·e·dar·ies.
  1. the single-humped camel, Camelus dromedarius, of Arabia and northern Africa.
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Compare Bactrian camel.

Origin of dromedary

1300–50; Middle English dromedarie, -ary (< Anglo-French) < Late Latin dromedārius (camēlus) < Greek dromad- (stem of dromás) running + Latin -ārius -ary
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for dromedary

Historical Examples

  • By pulling this to one side or the other the dromedary may be turned in any direction.

    From Pole to Pole

    Sven Anders Hedin

  • Shah Sevar sits erect on his dromedary and leads the assault.

    From Pole to Pole

    Sven Anders Hedin

  • The One-Hump camel is called an Arabian camel, or a dromedary.

    The Wonders of the Jungle

    Prince Sarath Ghosh

  • "That's the boy who called me a dromedary," said Hibbert, as they turned away.

    The Hero of Garside School

    J. Harwood Panting

  • There, on the dromedary, is the emperor's great warrior who commands the Romans in Pharan.

British Dictionary definitions for dromedary

dromedary

noun plural -daries
  1. a type of Arabian camel bred for racing and riding, having a single hump and long slender legs
  2. another name for Arabian camel
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Word Origin

C14: from Late Latin dromedārius (camēlus), from Greek dromas running
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dromedary

n.

late 13c., from Old French dromedaire, from Late Latin dromedarius "kind of camel," from Latin dromas (genitive dromados), from Greek dromas kamelos "running camel," from dromos "a race course," from PIE *drem-, from possible base *der- "to run, walk, step" (cf. Sanskrit dramati "runs, goes," Greek dromas "running," Middle High German tremen "to rock, shake, sway"). One-humped Arabian camels were bred and trained for riding. An early variant was drumbledairy (1560s).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper