mandrill

[ man-dril ]

noun

1. a large baboon, Mandrillus (or Papio ) sphinx, of western Africa, the male of which has a face brightly marked with blue and scarlet and a muzzle that is ribbed: an endangered species.

mandrill

/ ˈmændrɪl /

noun

1. an Old World monkey, Mandrillus sphinx, of W Africa. It has a short tail and brown hair, and the ridged muzzle, nose, and hindquarters are red and blue

Word History and Origins

Origin of mandrill¹

First recorded in 1735–45; man + drill ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of mandrill¹

C18: from man + drill ⁴

Example Sentences

Balamuthia mandrillaris was first identified in 1986—not in a hospital but at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, where staff were eagerly anticipating the birth of a mandrill, the largest species of monkey.

From Science Magazine

“The Lion King” draws on the Christian narrative of a son who becomes a savior but also incorporates elements of mysticism though the mandrill shaman Rafiki.

From Los Angeles Times

The tiger and the buffalo, the toucans and monkeys and the mandrills in the trees, all start dancing to an old rave tune; the kids bop along, too.

From New York Times

The devil and the mandrill try to kiss, in costume, which is weirder still.

From Los Angeles Times

A longtime Santa Barbara resident, Gore said during a recent conversation that he didn’t set out to create a conceptually linked work involving howlers, mandrills, capuchins and vervets.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• monkey