Okapi
/oʊˈkɑːpi/noun
A large African mammal related to the giraffe, with a horse-like body, striped legs, and a long prehensile tongue.
Did you know?The word entered English from a Lese language form recorded in the Congo region, and the animal itself was unknown to Western science until the early 20th century.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-20th century
Lese
okapi
“The local name for the animal in Central Africa”
1901
English
okapi
“Adopted into English after reports from the Congo region”
Early 20th century
English
okapi
“Applied in scientific and popular writing to the newly described giraffid mammal”
Modern English
English
okapi
“The standard English name for the African forest-dwelling giraffe relative”
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