tallest living quadruped; having a spotted coat and small horns and very long neck and legs; of savannahs of tropical Africa
"The giraffe stretched its long neck to reach the acacia leaves high above the African savannah."
A ruminant, of the genus Giraffa, of the African savannah with long legs and highly elongated neck, which make it the tallest living animal; yellow fur patterned with dark spots, often in the form of a network; and two or more short, skin-covered horns, so-called; strictly speaking the horn-like projections are ossicones.
"The giraffe stretched its long neck to reach the highest leaves on the acacia tree while its spotted coat blended perfectly with the dappled sunlight of the savannah."
The word comes from the Italian giraffa, which was adopted into Middle French. It originally replaced an older term for the animal.