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monkey definition

mon·key (muŋ′kē)

noun pl. monkeys -·keys

    1. any of several families of Old and New World primates usually having a flat, hairless face and a long tail
    2. loosely any of other, similar primates, as a gibbon or chimpanzee
  2. the fur of some species of long-haired monkeys
  3. a person regarded as somehow like a monkey, as a mischievous or imitative child
  4. any of various mechanical devices, as the iron block raised and dropped in a pile driver

Etymology: Early ModE, prob. < or akin to MLowG Moneke, name applied in the beast epic Reynard the Fox to the son of Martin the Ape < Fr or Sp mona, ape < ? Ar maimūn, ape, lit., lucky (euphemism: the ape was regarded as the devil) + LowG -ke, -kin

intransitive verb

☆ Informal to play, fool, trifle, or meddle: often followed by around, with, or around with

transitive verb

Rare to mimic; ape
monkey Idioms

a monkey on one's back

☆ Slang
  1. addiction to a drug
  2. any trying, burdensome obsession, problem, etc.

make a monkey (out) of

☆
to make appear foolish or laughable

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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origins, first use of noun followed by monkey37 years ago

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