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. {pound}500. 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.
Phrases and idioms:
have 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.
Derivatives:
monkeyish adj.
Etymology: 16th c.: orig. unkn. (perh. LG)