| 释义 |
gazelle|gəˈzɛl|
Also 6–7 ? gugelle, 8 ghazel, 9 gazel (erron. gazhal).
[a. F. gazelle (OF. gazel, recorded in 14th c.) = Sp. gacela, gacele, gacel, Pg. gazella, It. gazzella, ad. Arab. ghazāl, which prob. passed first into Sp. and thence to the other Rom. tongues.]
A small delicately-formed antelope, of which the typical species (Gazella Dorcas) is a native of Northern Africa; other varieties are found in various parts of Africa and Asia. The gazelle is especially noted for the grace of its movements and the softness of its eyes.
[1582N. Lichefield Castanheda's Discov. E. Ind. ii. 6 b, Also they doe eate of beastes, which they call Gazelas.] 1600J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa i. 39 Heere also, besides goates, sheepe, deere, Gugelle, conies..and ostriches. 1669Phil. Trans. IV. 995 The Gazelle, or wild African Shee⁓goat (the same with the Dorcas or Strepsiceros). 1745tr. F. Bernier in Harl. Misc. II. 184 Likewise leopards, or panthers tamed, which they use in the hunting of Gazelles. 1807–8W. Irving Salmag. (1824) 382 The turtle-dove, the timid fawn, the soft-eyed gazel..resorted to its vicinity. 1813Byron Giaour 474. 1822 Good Study Med. I. 277 They [Bezoars] are white, yellow, or brownish; that of the gazhal is greenish blue. 1851Layard Pop. Acc. Discov. Nineveh xiii. 352 Plenty of..gazelles, wild boars, and lions for the chase.
b. attrib. as gazelle-antelope; gazelle-eyed adj.
1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. III. iii. 72 A gazelle-eyed beauty is considered as the highest compliment that a lover can pay. 1850Swainson Quadrup. §265. 256 The gazelle antelopes may, then, be said to have their horns lyre-shaped.
Hence gaˈzelline a., ‘akin to the gazelle’ (Cassell). |