baboon

[ ba-boonor, especially British, buh- ]

noun

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, ridiculous, or brutish person, especially one of low intelligence.

baboon

/ bəˈbuːn /

noun

1. any of several medium-sized omnivorous Old World monkeys of the genus Papio (or Chaeropithecus ) and related genera, inhabiting open rocky ground or wooded regions of Africa. They have an elongated muzzle, large teeth, and a fairly long tail See also hamadryas gelada

Other Words From

• ba·boonish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of baboon¹

1275–1325; Middle English baboyne, babewyn grotesque figure, gargoyle, late Middle English: baboon (compare Anglo-Latin babevynus ) < Middle French babouin, akin to babine pendulous lip, derivative of an expressive base *bab- grimace

Word History and Origins

Origin of baboon¹

C14 babewyn gargoyle, later, baboon, from Old French babouin , from baboue grimace; related to Old French babine a thick lip

Example Sentences

“It sounds like a baboon getting his nose hairs ripped out.”

From Literature

"The possibility that T. rex might have been as intelligent as a baboon is fascinating and terrifying, with the potential to reinvent our view of the past," concluded Dr Darren Naish.

From Science Daily

After analyzing previous research on fossilized dinosaur brain cavities and the neuron counts of birds and other related living animals, Herculano-Houzel extrapolated that the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex may have had more than 3 billion neurons — more than a baboon.

From Los Angeles Times

Baboon mothers usually do not play with their babies.

From Science Daily

In this study, the researchers examined a collection of baboon mummies from the ancient Egyptian site of Gabbanat el-Qurud, the so-called Valley of the Monkeys on the west bank of Luxor.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• monkey