'camel' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'camelus', where 'camelus' meant 'camel (a desert pack animal)'.

'camel' changed from Greek 'kamelos' and earlier from Semitic root 'gamal', moving into Latin as 'camelus' and then into Old/Middle English (via Old French) before becoming the modern English word 'camel'.

Initially, it meant 'camel' (the desert pack animal), and over time it has largely retained that meaning in modern English.