Giraffes

/dʒɪˈrɑːfz/ noun

Definition

The tallest living land animals with very long necks, long legs, and distinctive tan coats with brown patches.

Etymology

From Italian 'giraffa,' derived from Arabic 'zarāfah' or Hebrew 'zarnaf.' The animal fascinated Europeans who first encountered it through trade, and the word traveled across languages along with tales of this remarkable creature.

Kelly Says

Giraffes were so impossibly tall that ancient people invented myths about them—some thought they were hybrids of leopards and camels! Their height is actually an evolutionary marvel: their hearts must pump blood all the way up to their brains against gravity, so giraffe hearts are enormous.

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