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. $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. 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. monkeyish adj.
[ 16th c.: orig. unkn. (perh. LG) ]