Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Zebra \Ze"bra\, n. [Pg. zebra; cf. Sp. cebra; probably from a
   native African name.] (Zo["o]l.)
   Either one of two species of South African wild horses
   remarkable for having the body white or yellowish white, and
   conspicuously marked with dark brown or brackish bands.

   Note: The true or mountain zebra ({Equus, or Asinus, zebra})
         is nearly white, and the bands which cover the body and
         legs are glossy black. Its tail has a tuft of black
         hair at the tip. It inhabits the mountains of Central
         and Southern Africa, and is noted for its wariness and
         wildness, as well as for its swiftness. The second
         species ({Equus, or Asinus, Burchellii}), known as
         {Burchell's zebra}, and {dauw}, inhabits the grassy
         plains of South Africa, and differs from the preceding
         in not having dark bands on the legs, while those on
         the body are more irregular. It has a long tail,
         covered with long white flowing hair.

   {Zebra caterpillar}, the larva of an American noctuid moth
      ({Mamestra picta}). It is light yellow, with a broad black
      stripe on the back and one on each side; the lateral
      stripes are crossed with withe lines. It feeds on
      cabbages, beets, clover, and other cultivated plants.

   {Zebra opossum}, the zebra wolf. See under {Wolf}.

   {Zebra parrakeet}, an Australian grass parrakeet, often kept
      as a cage bird. Its upper parts are mostly pale greenish
      yellow, transversely barred with brownish black crescents;
      the under parts, rump, and upper tail coverts, are bright
      green; two central tail feathers and the cheek patches are
      blue. Called also {canary parrot}, {scallop parrot},
      {shell parrot}, and {undulated parrot}.

   {Zebra poison} (Bot.), a poisonous tree ({Euphorbia arborea})
      of the Spurge family, found in South Africa. Its milky
      juice is so poisonous that zebras have been killed by
      drinking water in which its branches had been placed, and
      it is also used as an arrow poison. --J. Smith (Dict.
      Econ. Plants).

   {Zebra shark}. Same as {Tiger shark}, under {Tiger}.

   {Zebra spider}, a hunting spider.

   {Zebra swallowtail}, a very large North American
      swallow-tailed butterfly ({Iphiclides ajax}), in which the
      wings are yellow, barred with black; -- called also
      {ajax}.

   {Zebra wolf}. See under {Wolf}.