— monkeyish , adj. — monkeyishly , adv. — monkeyishness , n.
/mung"kee/ , n. , pl. monkeys , v. , monkeyed, monkeying .
n.
1. any mammal of the order Primates, including the guenons, macaques, langurs, and capuchins, but excluding humans, the anthropoid apes, and, usually, the tarsier and prosimians. Cf. New World monkey, Old World monkey .
2. the fur of certain species of such long-haired animals.
3. a person likened to such an animal, as a mischievous, agile child or a mimic.
4. a dance, deriving from the twist, in which the partners move their hands as if climbing a pole and jerk their heads back and forth.
5. Slang. an addiction to narcotics.
6. any of various mechanical devices, as the ram of a pile driver.
7. Coal Mining. a small passageway or opening.
8. Brit. Slang. the sum of 500 pounds.
9. Australian Informal. a sheep.
10. a monkey on one's back , Slang.
a. an addiction to a drug or drugs; narcotic dependency.
b. an enduring and often vexing habit or urge.
c. a burdensome problem, situation, or responsibility; personal affliction or hindrance.
11. make a monkey out of , to cause to appear ridiculous; make a fool of. Also, make a monkey of .
v.i.
12. Informal. to play or trifle idly; fool (often fol. by around or with ).
v.t.
13. to imitate; ape; mimic.
14. to mock.
[ 1520-30; appar. Moneke (name of son of Martin the Ape in the story of Reynard), equiv. to mone- (akin to obs. F monne she-ape, Sp, Pg mono ape) + -ke dim. suffix ]