Meaning
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.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
Inherited from Middle English babewin, baboin, from Old French babouin, from baboue (“grimace; muzzle”) (whence French babouin), from an imitative origin. According to Oxford English Dictionary, it was an imitative base *bab-, which is in turn from the (reduplicated) syllable ba, characteristic of early infantile vocalization (and expressive of the movement of the lips in speech). French babouin was also borrowed into other European languages. Confer Vulgar Latin babouinus ("a grimace"), Vulgar Latin babuinare ("to paint marginal figures in manuscripts"), Italian babbuino, babuino (“baboon”), Dutch baviaan (“baboon”), German Pavian (“baboon”) For the sense of infant imitation, see English babble (“to blather”), English babe (“darling”), English baby (“infant”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 17 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-09-06BADEGNO
- 2026-03-29BANICLO
- 2026-02-01BANIGLO
- 2025-11-24OAWRIBN
- 2025-09-13BACNOTI
- 2025-05-25NPAOEBL
- 2025-01-16BYOLNAT
- 2024-09-21NAWOJEB
- 2024-09-01ABNHDKO
- 2024-06-30BARNIOW
- 2024-06-23NAYUTOB
- 2023-10-10NRAOLBM
+5 earlier appearances in the archive.