Giraffids

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Hoofed, long-necked ruminant mammals of Africa that make up the family Giraffidae, including giraffes and okapis
2. The family of tall, long-necked even-toed mammals native to Africa, comprising the giraffe and its close relative the okapi
3. Animals belonging to the family Giraffidae, a group of cud-chewing hoofed mammals known for their elongated necks and distinctive coats

Etymology: "Giraffids" is the plural of "giraffid", a member of the family of hoofed mammals that includes giraffes and their extinct relatives, okapis among them. The singular is formed from Giraffidae, the scientific name of that family, which is a New Latin coinage built on "giraffa", the Latin-Italian name of the giraffe. The English word giraffe itself traces back through French and Italian to an Arabic word, "zarafa", so the family name carries a chain of borrowings from Arabic into Latin and then into modern taxonomy. The "-id" ending is the standard zoological suffix used for animal families, which is why the plural form follows ordinary English rules: add an "s" to "giraffid" to refer to several members of the group together.