English Explanatory Dictionary

baboon

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  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. A foolish, stupid or incompetent person.
  3. A black person.

Pronunciation

bəbo͞onʹ /bəˈbuːn/ /ˌbæˈbuːn/ en-us-baboon.ogg

Word forms

baboon baboons babian babion

Etymology

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.

Related words

chacma drill mandrill

Derived words

antibaboon Anubis baboon Arabian baboon baboonery babooness babooning baboonish baboonize baboonlike baboon-monkey baboon spider baboon syndrome Cape baboon chacma baboon dog-faced baboon gelada baboon Guinea baboon hamadryas baboon huboon Kinda baboon lion-tailed baboon olive baboon orange baboon tarantula sacred baboon sheboon sphinx baboon ursine baboon western baboon wood baboon yellow baboon
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