talapoin

[ tal-uh-poin ]

noun

1. a small, yellowish guenon monkey, Micropithecus ( Cercopithecus ) talapoin, of western Africa.

talapoin

/ ˈtæləˌpɔɪn /

noun

1. the smallest of the guenon monkeys, Cercopithecus talapoin, of swampy central W African forests, having olive-green fur and slightly webbed digits
2. in Myanmar and Thailand
   1. a Buddhist monk
   2. a title of respect used in addressing such a monk

Word History and Origins

Origin of talapoin¹

1580–90; < French, special use (originally jocular) of talapoin Buddhist monk < Mon tɔelaʔ pian (written tīla puin ) Buddha, literally, the Lord of Merit ( Old Mon tirlaaʾ lord + Pali puñña merit)

Word History and Origins

Origin of talapoin¹

C16: from French, literally: Buddhist monk, from Portuguese talapão, from Mon tala pōi our lord; originally jocular, from the appearance of the monkey

Example Sentences

A talapoin says, that Fo was a holy man, whose doctrine the bonzes have corrupted, and that Sammonocodom is the true God.

From Project Gutenberg