hanuman

[ huhn-oo-mahn, hah-noo-; huhn-oo-mahn, hah-noo- ]

noun

, plural han·u·mans

1. Also called entellus. a langur, Presbytis ( Semnopithecus ) entellus, held sacred in India.
2. (initial capital letter) Hindu Mythology. a monkey chief who is a conspicuous figure in the Ramayana.

Hanuman

/ ˌhʌnʊˈmɑːn /

noun

1. sometimes not capital another word for entellus
2. the monkey chief of Hindu mythology and devoted helper of Rama

Word History and Origins

Origin of hanuman¹

1805–15; < Sanskrit hanuman, nominative singular of hanumant

Word History and Origins

Origin of hanuman¹

from Hindi Hanumān , from Sanskrit hanumant having (conspicuous) jaws, from hanu jaw

Example Sentences

Residents around Madison Valley get another takeout option with the arrival of Hanuman Thai Cafe, located across from Cafe Flora.

From Seattle Times

Inspired by the tales of the half-monkey Hindu god Hanuman, Kid takes on those in power who are abusing members of lower castes.

From New York Times

This is a revenge picture, so the Kid, who sometimes goes by the alias Bobby, must get his payback, driven by fiery blood-soaked memories and the sound of his mother whispering Hanuman’s legend in his ear.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s especially crucial because while the messy story crams in a great deal — sad ladies, musclemen, brutal cops, exploited villagers, a false prophet and the Hindu god Hanuman, who appears as half-human, half-monkey — it never coheres.

From New York Times

Set in a fictional city in India akin to Gotham City, “Monkey Man” builds from mythic elements: Patel plays a young man known only as Kid who wears a monkey mask — reminiscent of the legend of Hanuman — to get beaten down night after night in an underground fight ring.

From Los Angeles Times