— zebralike, zebraic /zi bray"ik/ , adj. — zebrine /zee"bruyn, -brin/ , adj.
/zee"breuh/ ; Brit. also /zeb"reuh/ , n. , pl. zebras , ( esp. collectively ) zebra .
1. any of several horselike African mammals of the genus Equus, each species having a characteristic pattern of black or dark-brown stripes on a whitish background: all zebra species are threatened or endangered.
2. Also called zebra butterfly . a tropical butterfly, Heliconius charithonius, having black wings barred with yellow.
3. ( cap. ) a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter Z.
4. Football Slang. an official, who usually wears a black and white striped shirt.
5. See zebra crossing .
[ 1590-1600; 1975-80 for def. 4;
zebra, zebro the Iberian wild ass (Sp cebra ), perh. equiferus (Pliny) kind of wild horse, equiv. to equi- (comb. form of equus horse) + ferus wild ]