gazelle

[guh-zel]

noun, plural ga·zelles, (especially collectively) ga·zelle.

any small antelope of the genus Gazella and allied genera, of Africa and Asia, noted for graceful movements and lustrous eyes.

Origin of gazelle

1575–85; < French; Old French gazel < Arabic ghazāla

Related formsga·zelle·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gazelle

Contemporary Examples of gazelle

She glided over the tile floor like a gazelle and had a face that Amedeo Modigliani would have died for.
They Were Perfect Together
Lawrence Schiller
November 22, 2010
Then, from my left, a tall, beautiful girl, graceful as a gazelle in skintight jeans and high heels, slinked over to me.
My Parents' Brothel
Douglas Rogers
December 6, 2009
The gazelle was at my side again, and I bought her a third beer.
My Parents' Brothel
Douglas Rogers
December 6, 2009

Historical Examples of gazelle

Then south-eastwards to Teereh; near which we started a gazelle across the fields.
Byeways in Palestine
James Finn
At times Ea was regarded as a gazelle rather than as an antelope.
The Evolution of the Dragon
G. Elliot Smith
He answered that he would; and whilst we were waiting, behold, a gazelle got into the net.
A Boswell of Baghdad
E. V. Lucas
Her beauty was magnificently evil; she had the grace of a gazelle and the eyes of a sorceress.
The Yellow Claw
Sax Rohmer
Honain, Honain, the gazelle has broken her chain, and is eating my roses.'
Alroy
Benjamin Disraeli

British Dictionary definitions for gazelle

gazelle

noun plural -zelles or -zelle

any small graceful usually fawn-coloured antelope of the genera Gazella and Procapra, of Africa and Asia, such as G. thomsoni (Thomson's gazelle)

Derived Formsgazelle-like, adjective

Word Origin for gazelle

C17: from Old French, from Arabic ghazāl

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 gazelle

c.1600, from French gazelle, Old French gazel (14c.), probably via Spanish, ultimately from North African pronunciation of Arabic ghazal.