baboon

Meaning

1. An Old World monkey of the genus Papio, having dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks.
2. (colloquial) A foolish or boorish person.

Synonyms

ape

chimpanzee

drill

mandrel

monkey

🐒

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bəˈbuːn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: babewin

Cognate with German: Bäppe

Cognate with Middle High German: beffen

Cognate with Middle English: baffen

In summary

From Middle English babewin, baboin, from Old French babouin, from baboue (“grimace; muzzle”), of West Germanic origin, related to dialectal German Bäppe (“lips; muzzle”), Middle High German beffen (“to bark”), Middle English baffen (“to bark”). See also baff, baffle.