monkey puzzle
noun
a South American, coniferous timber tree, Araucaria araucana, having candelabralike branches, stiff sharp leaves, and edible nuts.
Origin of monkey puzzle
First recorded in 1865–70; perhaps from the intertwined arrangement of its limbs
Words nearby monkey puzzle
monkey island,
monkey jacket,
monkey nut,
monkey on one's back,
monkey orchid,
monkey puzzle,
monkey suit,
monkey tail,
monkey trial,
monkey tricks,
monkey wrench
British Dictionary definitions for monkey puzzle
monkey puzzle
noun
a South American coniferous tree, Araucaria araucana, having branches shaped like a candelabrum and stiff sharp leaves: family Araucariaceae
Also called: Chile pine
Word Origin for monkey puzzle
so called because monkeys allegedly have difficulty climbing them