baboon

(ba bo̵̅o̅n, bə-)

noun

any of various large, fierce, short-tailed Old World monkeys (mainly genus Papio) of Africa and Arabia, having a doglike snout and long teeth, a large head with cheek pouches, and bare calluses on the rump

Origin: ME babewyne < OFr babuin, ape, fool < baboue, lip (of animals) < bab, echoic: see babble

Related Forms:

See baboon in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Any of several large terrestrial African and Asian monkeys of the family Cercopithecidae, especially of the genus Papio or Chaeropithecus and related genera, characterized by an elongated, doglike muzzle, a short tail, and bare calluses on the buttocks.
  2. Slang A brutish person; a boor.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English babewin

Origin: , from Old French babuin, gaping figure, gargoyle, baboon

Origin: , perhaps blend of Old French babine, muzzle,

Origin: and babau, grimace

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Related Forms:

  • ba·boonˈer·y noun
  • ba·boonˈish adjective

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