# camel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkæml̩/ · frequency rank #12,197

## Definitions
1. A mammalian beast of burden, much used in desert areas, of the genus Camelus.
2. A light brownish color, like that of a camel (also called camel brown).
3. A vessel or tank, typically paired, used to make an object more buoyant.
4. A person of Middle Eastern origin.
5. A fairy chess piece that is moved three squares in one direction and one at right angles to that direction in a single move, leaping over any intervening pieces.

## Etymology
From Middle English camel, through Old English camel and Old Northern French camel (Old French chamel, modern French chameau), from Latin camēlus, from Ancient Greek κάμηλος (kámēlos), from a Semitic source, ultimately from Proto-Semitic *gamal-; compare Arabic جَمَل (jamal), Hebrew גמל (gamál), Aramaic ܓܡܠܐ (gamlā), Coptic ϭⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ (čamoul). As a marine device, from Dutch. As an ethnic slur, short for camelfucker, camel jockey, etc.

## Easily confused with
- **CME** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cme)
- **cel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cel)
- **come** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-come)
- **care** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-care)
- **case** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-case)
- **camp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-camp)
- **cape** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cape)
- **carl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-carl)
- **cave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cave)
- **cane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cane)
- **camo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-camo)
- **cate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cate)
- **cami** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cami)
- **comes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-comes)
- **cases** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cases)
- **cares** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cares)
- **canal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-canal)
- **camps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-camps)
- **cruel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cruel)
- **cared** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/camel-vs-cared)

## Common misspellings (7)
`acmel`, `caeml`, `camell`, `camle`, `cammel`, `ccamel`, `cmael`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/camel