kameeldoorn

noun

ka·​meel·​doorn

-ˌdōrn

variants or less commonly kameeldoring bush

-ˌdōriŋ-

or kameelthorn

-ˌthȯrn

plural kameeldoorns also kameelthorns

Africa

: any of several acacia trees

especially : a tall tree (Acacia giraffae) on which the giraffe often browses

Word History

Etymology

kameeldoorn from obsolete Afrikaans kameeldoorn (now kameeldoring), from Afrikaans kameel + obsolete Afrikaans doorn thorn, from Dutch, from Middle Dutch dorn; kameeldoring bush from Afrikaans kameeldoring + English bush; kameelthorn partial translation of Afrikaans kameeldoring; akin to Old English thorn

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