[cam.el] n [ME, fr. OE & ONF, fr. L camelus, fr. Gk kamelos, of Sem origin; akin to Heb gamal camel] (bef. 12c) 1: either of two large ruminant mammals (genus Camelus) used as draft and saddle animals in desert regions esp. of Africa and Asia: a: the one-humped camel (C. dromedarius) extant only as a domestic or feral animal--called also dromedary b: the two-humped camel (C. bactrianus syn. C. ferus) of Chinese Turkestan and Mongolia--called also Bactrian camel
2: a watertight structure used esp. to lift submerged ships
3: a light yellowish brown