camel

noun

1. either of two large, humped, ruminant quadrupeds of the genus Camelus, of the Old World.Compare Bactrian camel, dromedary.
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(def 3a).

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 fatSee Arabian camel, Bactrian camel
2. a float attached to a vessel to increase its buoyancySee also caisson (def. 3)
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

n.

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.

see under last straw.