Dictionary

giraffess en · NOUN

Etymology

From giraffe + -ess.

Meanings

1. (rare) A female giraffe.
   • Fable of the Giraffess / Once there was a Beautiful Giraffess, who was Presented at Court. Her Costume was the Limit, and King Lion was much struck by her Beauty and Charm. “I am Delighted to see you,” he said to the Beautiful Giraffess, “but where is your Husband? Was he not also Commanded to Come?” “Yes, Your Majesty,” answered the Beautiful Giraffess, “but he had to Pay so Much Money for my Low-Necked Dress that he could not afford to Buy a Collar for Himself.” 1902 May 4, The Pittsburg Press, volume 19, number 123, Pittsburg, Pa.:
   • Now we’re not the type to quarrel with facts and it may be that baby giraffes sometimes are six feet tall at birth (if so, if we were a giraffess, we certainly would be a bachelor girl giraffess, we think.) 1954 December 13, Ollie M. James, “Just The Facts, Sir and Ma'am”, in The Cincinnati Enquirer, 114th year, number 248, Cincinnati, Ohio, page 4:
   • The tongue of a giraffe is two feet long according to a late authority. He probably didn’t dare mention the length of a giraffess’ tongue. 1907 February 14, The Brewton Standard, volume XX, number 36, Brewton, Ala.:
   • New Giraffess Named Sudan / It’s a girl, Honolulu Zoo Director Paul Breese announced yesterday after the sex of the baby giraffe born to Twiga on Monday had been determined. 1962 March 22, The Honolulu Advertiser, 106th year, number 53,667, Honolulu, Haw., page B1:
   • The “giraffesses” gaily sport / Their yellow polka dots / While all the lady zebras shine / In stripes, instead of spots. 1913, J[ohn] H. Cradlebaugh, Nyeena Kloshe Illahee (Songs of the Good Country), Portland, Or.: Press of F. W. Baltes and Company, page 61:

Forms