I. ˈzēbrə, Brit also ˈzeb- noun
( plural zebras also zebra )
Etymology: Italian, from Spanish cebra, from Old Spanish zebra, zebro, enzebro wild ass, perhaps from (assumed) Vulgar Latin eciferus wild horse, alteration of Latin equiferus, from equus horse + ferus wild — more at equine , fierce
1. : any of several fleet African equine mammals related to the horse and the ass but distinctively and conspicuously patterned in stripes of black or dark brown and white or buff — see burchell's zebra , gr évy's zebra, mountain zebra
2. or zebra butterfly : a black yellow-striped butterfly ( Heliconius charitonius ) of the family Heliconiidae found in southern Florida and the West Indies
3. : any of various objects bearing stripes like those of the zebra
4.
a. : zebra fish
b. : a small southern African sargo ( Diplodus trifasciatus ) highly esteemed for sport and food
II.
Usage: usually capitalized
— a communications code word for the letter z
III. noun
Usage: sometimes capitalized
: a person who officiates a sports contest (as a basketball or football game)