Find the word definition

Crossword clues for zebu

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Zebu

Zebu \Ze"bu\, n. [?. z['e]bu; of uncertain origin.] (Zo["o]l.) A bovine mammal ( Ros Indicus) extensively domesticated in India, China, the East Indies, and East Africa. It usually has short horns, large pendulous ears, slender legs, a large dewlap, and a large, prominent hump over the shoulders; but these characters vary in different domestic breeds, which range in size from that of the common ox to that of a large mastiff.

Note: Some of the varieties are used as beasts of burden, and some fore for riding, while others are raised for their milk and flesh. The Brahmin bull, regarded as sacred by the Hindoos, also belongs to this species. The male is called also Indian bull, Indian ox, Madras ox, and sacred bull.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
zebu

Asiatic ox, 1774, from French zebu, ultimately of Tibetan origin. First shown in Europe at the Paris fair of 1752.

Wiktionary
zebu

n. A domesticated ox native to Asia and Africa, having a large fleshy hump on its back and a dewlap ((taxlink Bos primigenius indicus subspecies noshow=1)).

WordNet
zebu

n. domesticated ox having a humped back and long horns and a large dewlap; used chiefly as a draft animal in India and east Asia

Wikipedia
Zebu

A zebu (, or ; Bos primigenius indicus or Bos indicus or Bos taurus indicus), sometimes known as indicine cattle or humped cattle, is a species or sub-species of domestic cattle originating in South Asia. Zebu are characterised by a fatty hump on their shoulders, a large dewlap and sometimes drooping ears. They are well adapted to withstanding high temperatures, and are farmed throughout the tropical countries, both as pure zebu and as hybrids with taurine cattle, the other main type of domestic cattle. Zebu are used as draught oxen, as dairy cattle and as beef cattle, as well as for byproducts such as hides and dung for fuel and manure. In 1999, researchers at Texas A&M University successfully cloned a zebu.

Zebu (disambiguation)

Zebu may refer to:

  • Zebu, domestic cattle
  • EVE/ZeBu, company
  • Zebu (ship), a tall ship

Usage examples of "zebu".

Camarines, Don Fray Francisco de Zamudio, to act as provisor until the bishop of Zebu, Don Fray Pedro de Arze, should be notified, to whom the government of this archbishopric belongs by a bull of Paul V.

You can learn everything from Azygous and Aye-Ayes to Zebus and Zwitterions.

The greater part of the travellers were aware of this interruption, and, leaving the train, they began to engage such vehicles as the village could provide four-wheeled palkigharis, waggons drawn by zebus, carriages that looked like perambulating pagodas, palanquins, ponies, and what not.

Upon the car, which was drawn by four richly caparisoned zebus, stood a hideous statue with four arms, the body coloured a dull red, with haggard eyes, dishevelled hair, protruding tongue, and lips tinted with betel.

For instance, India’s zebu breeds of domestic cattle possess humps lacking in western Eurasian cattle breeds, and genetic analyses show that the ancestors of modern Indian and western Eurasian cattle breeds diverged from each other hundreds of thousands of years ago, long before any animals were domesticated anywhere.