An archaic or poetic term for a giraffe, literally combining 'camel' and 'leopard' to describe its spotted appearance and tall stature.
From Middle English and Old French camelopard, adapted from Late Latin camelopardalis, which combined camelus (camel) + pardus (leopard/pard). This hybrid name reflected medieval belief that giraffes were actual crosses between camels and big cats.
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