Gazel

/ɡəˈzɛl/ noun

Definition

An archaic or variant spelling of gazelle, a small graceful antelope found in Africa and Asia.

Etymology

From French gazelle, from Arabic ghazal, possibly from a root meaning 'to run swiftly'; this is an older English spelling variant that has largely been replaced by 'gazelle.'

Kelly Says

The word gazelle traveled through Arabic to French to English—and along the way picked up an extra 'l'—showing how the same animal gets renamed a little bit every time it crosses a linguistic border.

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