the ossicones of females and young are thin

Both sexes have prominent horn-like structures called ossicones, which are formed from ossified cartilage, covered in skin and fused to the skull at the parietal bones.[24] Being vascularized, the ossicones may have a role in thermoregulation,[29] and are also used in combat between males.[31] Appearance is a reliable guide to the sex or age of a giraffe: the ossicones of females and young are thin and display tufts of hair on top, whereas those of adult males end in knobs and tend to be bald on top.[24] Also, a median lump, which is more prominent in males, emerges at the front of the skull.[12] Males develop calcium deposits that form bumps on their skulls as they age.[13] A giraffe's skull is lightened by multiple sinuses.[27]:70 However, as males age, their skulls become heavier and more club-like, helping them become more dominant in combat.[24] The upper jaw has a grooved palate and lacks front teeth.[28]:26 The giraffe's molars have a rough surface
The name "giraffe" has its earliest known origins in the Arabic word zarafa (?????), perhaps from some African language.[3] The name is translated as "fast-walker".[4] There were several Middle English spellings such as jarraf, ziraph, and gerfauntz.[3] The word possibly was derived from the animal's Somali name geri.[5] The Italian form giraffa arose in the 1590s.[3] The modern English form developed around 1600 from the French girafe.[3] The species name camelopardalis is from Latin.[6]
Kameelperd is also the name for the species in Afrikaans.[7] Other African names for the giraffe include ekorii (Ateso), kanyiet (Elgon), nduida (Gikuyu), tiga (Kalenjin and Luo), ndwiya (Kamba), nudululu (Kihehe), ntegha (Kinyaturu), ondere (Lugbara), etiika (Luhya), kuri (Ma'di), oloodo-kirragata or olchangito-oodo (Maasai), lenywa (Meru), hori (Pare), lment (Samburu) and twiga (Swahili and others) in the east;[8]:313 and tutwa (Lozi), nthutlwa (Shangaan), indlulamitsi (Siswati), thutlwa (Sotho), thuda (Venda) and ndlulamithi (Zulu) in the south