baboon

[ ba-boon or, esp. British, buh- ]
/ bæˈbun or, esp. British, bə- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR baboon ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Origin of baboon

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

OTHER WORDS FROM baboon

ba·boon·ish, adjective

Words nearby baboon

babirusa, babism, babka, babo's law, baboo, baboon, baboonery, babracot, babruysk, babs, babson

Words related to baboon

monkey, chacma, mandrill

Example sentences from the Web for baboon

British Dictionary definitions for baboon

baboon
/ (bəˈbuːn) /

noun

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

Word Origin for baboon

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