dromedary
(ˈdrʌm-, ˈdrɒmɪdərɪ)
Also 4–6 dromodarye, -ie (dromounday), 5 dromadayr, dromyder, drowmondere, dromond-, dromydary, (drombodary), 5–7 dromadary, 6 dromedare, -der, dromun-, drumbledary, drummi-, dromeldory, 7 dromidore, dromderrie, dromidary.
[ad. OF. dromedaire (mod.F. dromadaire), late L. dromedārius (Vulgate, Isa. lx. 6) for *dromadārius (sc. camēlus), f. dromas, dromad-em dromedary, a. Gr. δροµάς, δροµάδα, running, runner + Lat. suffix -ārius: see -ary1. The drumble-, dromel- forms are due to popular association with vernacular words in drumble-, q.v.]
1. A light and fleet breed of the camel, specially reared and trained for riding. See camel n.
Usually of the Arabian or one-humped camel, but the Bactrian camel may also be improved into a Dromedary.
| 13.. K. Alis. 3407 Olifans and camailes, Dromedaries. 1382 [see prec.]. c 1400 Destr. Troy 6207 Two dromondarys drowe hit [a chariot], dressit þerfore. c 1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. (E.E.T.S.) 111 Right swyft as dromyders. c 1425 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 638 Hic dromedarius, a drowmondere. c 1500 Melusine xxxvi. 274 Thenne came a trucheman mounted vpon a dromadary. 1570 Levins Manip. 104 A Drumbledary, dromedarius. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. viii. 38 Ryding upon a Dromedare on hie, Of stature huge, and horrible of hew. 1632 Lithgow Trav. vi. 298 A Dromidore, and Camel differ much in quality, but not in quantity, being of one height, bredth, and length..the Dromidory..will ride above 80 miles in the day. 1708 Motteux Rabelais iv. lxv, The Camels and Dromedaries of a Caravan. 1839 Thirlwall Greece VI. lii. 271 Mounted on dromedaries, they crossed the desert. |
† 2. = dromond. Obs.
[Late L. had dromeda also as the name of a sailing vessel: ‘Lembus est genus naviculæ quas Dromedas dicimus’, Fulgentius, Super Serm. Antiq. (c 550).]
| ? c 1475 Sqr. lowe Degre 818 With lxxx shippes of large towre, With dromedarys of great honour. 1520 [see dromond]. 1568 C. Watson Polyb. 66 b, They looked for taking certaine of their dromundaries, costed into a creek adjoining. |
† 3. A stupid, bungling fellow. Obs. Cf. drumble-dore.
| 1567 Drant Horace Epist. B ij, Because Democrites iudgd art to be more base then witte, Therefore those drummidories seeke so sleightlie after it. 1597 Pilgr. Parnass. ii. 217 An old Stigmatick, an ould sober Dromeder. 1632 Massinger & Field Fatal Dowry ii. ii, A soulless dromedary! a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Dromedary, a Thief or Rogue..You are a purple Dromedary..You are a Bungler or a dull Fellow at thieving. 1785 in Grose. |
4. attrib., as dromedary camel, dromedary corps, dromedary hump.
| 1553 Brende Q. Curtius v. 76 Dromedarye Camels that were wonderful swift. 1579–80 North Plutarch (1676) 572 [He] had escaped..flying upon a Dromedary-Cammel. 1844 H. H. Wilson Brit. India II. 301 He moved against them with the third cavalry, the dromedary corps, and two companies of infantry. 1880 Blackmore M. Anerley xli, The dromedary humps of certain hills. |
Hence (nonce-wds.) dromeˈdarian a., of the nature of a dromedary; n., a rider on a dromedary; also ˈdromedarist.
| 1706 E. Ward Hud. Reviv. i. xvii, On his Dromedarian Brute. 1849 Lane Mod. Egypt. II. ix. 135 Mohhammad Ibn Kamil the Dromedarist. 1877 Daily Tel. 7 Nov., Ridden by dromedarians in Egyptian costume. |