baboon

baboon
baboon (n.) type of ape, c.1400, babewyn, earlier "a grotesque figure used in architecture or decoration" (early 14c.), from Fr. babouin "baboon," from O.Fr. baboin "ape," earlier "simpleton, dimwit, fool" (13c.), also "gaping figure (such as a gargoyle)," so perhaps from O.Fr. baboue "grimacing;" or perhaps it is imitative of the ape's babbling speech-like cries. Also Cf. -OON (Cf. -oon). German Pavian "baboon" is from Du. baviaan, from M.Du. baubijn, a borrowing of the Old French word.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Baboon — Bab*oon , n. [OE. babewin, baboin, fr. F. babouin, or LL. babewynus. Of unknown origin; cf. D. baviaan, G. pavian, baboon, F. babine lip of ape, dogs, etc., dial. G. b[ a]ppe mouth.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of the Old World Quadrumana, of the genera… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • baboon — ► NOUN ▪ a large ground dwelling monkey with a long snout. ORIGIN originally denoting a grotesque figure used in architecture: from Old French babuin or Latin babewynus …   English terms dictionary

  • baboon — [ba bo͞on′, bəbo͞on′] n. [ME babewyne < OFr babuin, ape, fool < baboue, lip (of animals) < bab, echoic: see BABBLE] any of various large, fierce, short tailed Old World monkeys (mainly genus Papio) of Africa and Arabia, having a doglike… …   English World dictionary

  • Baboon — For other uses, see Baboon (disambiguation). Baboon[1] …   Wikipedia

  • baboon — baboonish, adj. /ba boohn / or, esp. Brit., /beuh /, n. 1. any of various large, terrestrial monkeys of the genus Papio and related genera, of Africa and Arabia, having a doglike muzzle, large cheek pouches, and a short tail. 2. a coarse,… …   Universalium

  • baboon —    It has been possible to use ‘baboon’ as a friendly insult since at least the seventeenth century. In Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist ‘my good baboon’ occurs, and modern women are likely to refer to clumsy men as ‘you big baboon’ without too much… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • baboon — n. a jerk; a stupid person. (Also a rude term of address.) □ Stop acting like a baboon! Grow up! □ Tell that ugly baboon to get out of here. □ Hey, baboon, get off my lawn! …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • baboon — [14] The origins of baboon are obscure, but it seems that the notion underlying it may be that of ‘grimacing’. Baboons characteristically draw back their lips in snarling, revealing their teeth, and it has been speculated that there may be a… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • baboon — UK [bəˈbuːn] / US [bəˈbun] noun [countable] Word forms baboon : singular baboon plural baboons a type of large monkey from Africa or South Asia that lives on the ground …   English dictionary

  • baboon — babuinas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Papio cynocephalus angl. baboon; yellow baboon vok. Babuin Pavian; gelber Babuin rus. бабуин; жёлтый павиан; павиан бабуин pranc. babouin cynocéphale ryšiai:… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

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