Okapi
/ə(ʊ)ˈkɑːpi/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A large ruminant mammal, of species Okapia johnstoni, found in the rainforests of the Congo, related to the giraffe but with a much shorter neck, a reddish-brown coat, and zebra-like stripes on the hindquarters.
"[page 498, column 1] [I]n leading them [African Pygmies] back to the forests where they dwelt, I obtained much information from them on the subject of the horse-like animal which they called the "Okapi." […] [page 499, column 1] The coloration of the Okapi is quite extraordinary. […] The hind quarters, hind and fore legs are either snowy white or pale cream color, touched here and there with orange. They are boldly marked, however, with purple-black stripes and splodges, which give that zebra-like appearance to the limbs of the Okapi that caused the first imperfect account of it to indicate the discovery of a new striped horse."
- 2 similar to the giraffe but smaller with much shorter neck and stripe on the legs wordnet
Example
More examples"There are two okapi in the zoo."
Etymology
Borrowed from Mvuba okapi.