vervet

[ vur-vit ]

noun

1. an African monkey, Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus, allied to the green monkey and the grivet, but distinguished by a rusty patch at the root of the tail.

vervet

/ ˈvɜːvɪt /

noun

1. a variety of a South African guenon monkey, Cercopithecus aethiops, having dark hair on the hands and feet and a reddish patch beneath the tail Compare green monkey grivet

Word History and Origins

Origin of vervet¹

1880–85; < French, equivalent to ver ( t ) green ( vert ) + ( gri ) vet grivet

Word History and Origins

Origin of vervet¹

C19: from French, from vert green, but influenced by grivet

Example Sentences

Now researchers reporting in the journal iScience on December 19 have found similarly varied social traditions and styles among neighboring groups of vervet monkeys.

From Science Daily

The zoo is home to species including an African grey parrot, a vervet monkey, giant lizards known as Nile monitors, a desert tortoise, a horned viper snake and a Nubian spitting cobra.

From Seattle Times

But bountiful evidence now shows that culture exists in a wide variety of species, from bighorn sheep and vervet monkeys to meerkats and cranes.

From Scientific American

The animals slipped through the grassland like the vervet monkeys near the leopard cave.

From Literature

In Africa, vervets are eaten by leopards, eagles and snakes.

From Seattle Times