n.
Pronunciation: ' z ē -br ə , Canad & Brit also ' ze-
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural zebras
Etymology: Portuguese zebra, zebro wild ass, perhaps from Latin equiferus, kind of wild horse, from equus horse + ferus wild ― more at EQUINE , FIERCE
Date: 1600
1 plural also zebra : any of several fleet African mammals ( Equus burchelli, E. grevyi, and E. zebra ) related to the horse but distinctively and conspicuously patterned in stripes of black or dark brown and white or buff
2 [from the shirts patterned in black-and-white stripes worn by football referees] : REFEREE 2
3 : ZEBRA CROSSING
– ze · brine \ - ˌ br ī n \ adjective or noun