ˈmʌŋkɪ n. & v. --n. (pl. -eys) 1
any of
various New World and Old World primates
esp. of
the families Cebidae (including capuchins), Callitrichidae (including marmosets and tamarins), and Cercopithecidae (including baboons and apes). 2 a
mischievous person, esp. a
child (young monkey). 3 sl. a
Brit. ø500. b US $500. 4 (in full monkey engine) a
machine hammer for pile-driving etc. --v. (-eys, -eyed) 1 tr.
mimic or
mock. 2 intr. (often foll. by with)
tamper or
play mischievous tricks. 3 intr. (foll. by
around, about) fool around. øhave a monkey on one's
back sl. be a
drug addict.
make a monkey of
humiliate by
making appear ridiculous. monkey
bread the
baobab tree or
its fruit. monkey
business colloq.
mischief. monkey
flower a
mimulus, esp. Mimulus cardinalis,
with bright yellow flowers. monkey-jacket a
short close-fitting
jacket worn by sailors etc. or at a
mess. monkey-nut a
peanut. monkey-puzzle a coniferous tree,
Araucaria araucaria,
native to Chile, with downward-pointing branches and
small close-set
leaves. monkey-suit colloq.
evening dress. monkey tricks colloq. mischief. monkey
wrench a wrench with an adjustable
jaw. øømonkeyish adj. [16th
c.: orig. unkn. (perh. LG)]
