giraffe

• giraff, jaraff (obsolete)

From Middle French giraffe, from Italian giraffa, from Arabic زُرَافَة (zurāfa), from Classical Syriac ܙܪܝܦܐ (zārīp̄ā), from Classical Persian زُرْنَاپَا (zurnāpā, literally “flute-leg”). Displaced camelopard.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /dʒɪˈɹɑːf/
• (Northern England, Scotland) IPA^(key): /dʒɪˈɹaf/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /d͡ʒəˈɹæf/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑːf

giraffe (plural giraffes or giraffe)

2. A ruminant in the genus Giraffa of the African savannah with long legs, a highly elongated neck, yellow fur patterned with dark spots typically in the form of a network, and two or more horn-like projections called ossicones; the tallest living animal.

   Synonym: camelopard

   • 2019 June 6, “A gaggle, a confusion and a conspiracy - bizarre animal collective group names”, in BBC‎^[1]:

     A group of giraffes is called a tower.

3. A giraffe unicycle.
4. (Cockney rhyming slang) A laugh.

   Synonyms: bubble bath, bubble

   Are you having a giraffe?!

5. (Internet slang, uncommon) A very tall individual.

• giraffe on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Giraffa on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• Category:Giraffa on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons

• riffage

Possibly via German Giraffe, from Italian giraffa, from Arabic زَرَافَة (zarāfa).

• IPA^(key): /ʒiˈrɑf/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: gi‧raf‧fe
• Rhymes: -ɑf

giraffe f (plural giraffen or giraffes, diminutive giraffetje n or girafje n)

1. alternative spelling of giraf

• IPA^(key): /ʒi.ʁaf/

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

giraffe f (plural giraffes)

1. archaic spelling of girafe

• IPA^(key): /d͡ʒiˈraf.fe/
• Rhymes: -affe
• Hyphenation: gi‧ràf‧fe

giraffe f

1. plural of giraffa

Borrowed from Italian giraffa.

giraffe f (plural giraffes)

1. giraffe (mammal)