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

It's also the same size as a modern-day talapoin monkey, which are widespread throughout Africa, according to the Encyclopedia of Life.

From Fox News

Is it necessary to exhibit such spectacles to a mighty potentate, with interludes of talapoins* more mangy than dogs?

From Project Gutenberg

Every individual talapoin has his own house, which is very small, set upon six or eight posts, and to which they have to go up by a ladder of twelve or fourteen staves.

From Project Gutenberg

We cannot think without affright of those lands where fakirs, bonzes, santons, Greek monks, marabouts, talapoins, and dervishes multiply even like swarms of vermin.

From Project Gutenberg

Modern-day talapoins live in tropical forests, but researchers are still unclear what caused the evolution of monkeys.

From Fox News