'gazelle' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'ghazāl', where the root referred to a 'gazelle' or 'young deer'.

'gazelle' changed from Old French 'gazel'/'gazelle' and entered Middle English (as 'gazel'/'gasel'), eventually becoming the modern English word 'gazelle'.

Initially, it meant 'a small, swift antelope', and over time this meaning has largely remained the same.