gazelle
UK[ɡəˈzel]US[ɡəˈzel]
n
a small, slender antelope that moves quickly and gracefully, found in Africa and Asia.
Etymology
The word 'gazelle' has a long migratory history, tracing back to North Africa. It entered European languages via Old Spanish 'gazela' and Old French 'gazel', which were borrowed from Arabic 'ghazāl'. The Arabic term itself is likely derived from a word in a North African language, reflecting the animal's native habitat. The term's journey into English encapsulates the movement of goods, knowledge, and culture, with the animal's graceful image remaining constant from its Arabic origins to its modern English usage.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. It entered English as a single, unanalyzable unit from French.
Examples
The cheetah sprinted across the savanna in pursuit of a swift gazelle.
Her movements were as light and graceful as those of a gazelle.
We watched a herd of gazelles grazing peacefully near the waterhole.