Middle English Dictionary Entry
ǧerfaunt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ǧerfaunt n. Also gir-. |
| Etymology | OF, from Ar., with -faunt from olifaunt. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A giraffe.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)193/1 : Þere also be many bestes þat ben clept Orafles; In Arabye, þei ben clept Gerfauntz [Eg: gyrfauntz; F gerfaucz; ?read: gerfauntz]; þat is a best pomelee or spotted..but a lityll more high þan is a stede, But he hath the necke a xxti cubytes long.