gorilla

[ guh-ril-uh ]

noun

1. a terrestrial, largely vegetarian great ape of the genus Gorilla , inhabiting central African forests: possessing great upper body strength, with arms longer and more muscular than its legs, it is noted for its knuckle-walking and is larger than any other living primate. Cross River gorilla, eastern gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, mountain gorilla, western gorilla, western lowland gorilla.
2. an ugly, brutish person.
3. Slang. a hoodlum or thug, especially one who threatens or inflicts violence:

   Like any mob boss, he sent his gorillas to do the dirty work.

4. Disparaging and Offensive. (used as a slur against a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, especially a Black person.)

gorilla

/ ɡəˈrɪlə; ɡəˈrɪlaɪn /

noun

1. the largest anthropoid ape, Gorilla gorilla, inhabiting the forests of central W Africa. It is stocky and massive, with a short muzzle and coarse dark hair
2. informal.
   a large, strong, and brutal-looking man

Sensitive Note

See simianization.

Derived Forms

• goˈrilla-ˌlike, adjective
• goˈrillian, adjective
• goˈrilloid, adjective

Other Words From

• go·ril·la·like adjective
• go·ril·li·an adjective
• go·ril·line [g, uh, -, ril, -ahyn, -in], adjective
• go·ril·loid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gorilla¹

First recorded in 1845–50; from New Latin, from Greek Goríllās (accusative plural) name for the females of a hairy tribe encountered in an account of a voyage along the coast of Africa made by the Carthaginian Hanno in the 5th century b.c.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gorilla¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek Gorillai, an African tribe renowned for their hirsute appearance

Example Sentences

Few rock frontmen, though, would have been open to receiving it while in a car listening to a news report about the theft of a giant model gorilla from a Scottish garden centre.

From BBC

“We just got back from a rigorous trip with the gorillas in Rwanda — there’s no way I could have done that if I hadn’t been in reasonably decent shape.”

From Los Angeles Times

“It would not be difficult to reason that it very likely came from the gorillas at the zoo.”

From Los Angeles Times

Self-medicating gorillas may hold clues to future drug discovery, according to scientists.

From BBC

Gabonese officials need not despair, given the array of attractions in their home country - including stunning white sand beaches and some of the world's best gorilla safaris in Loango National Park.

From BBC

Related Words

• assassin
• bandit
• bully
• criminal
• gangster
• goon
• gunman
• hooligan
• mobster
• murderer
• rowdy
• troublemaker