n.
(pl. monkeys)
- a small to medium-sized primate typically having a long tail and living in trees in tropical countries.
[Families Cebidae and Callitrichidae (New World), and Cercopithecidae (Old World).]
- a mischievous person, especially a child.
- Brit. informal a sum of £500.
-
(also monkey engine)
a piledriving machine consisting of a heavy hammer or ram working vertically in a groove.
v.
(monkeys, monkeying, monkeyed)
-
(monkey about/around)
behave in a silly or playful way.
▸
(monkey with)
tamper with.
- archaic ape; mimic.
Phrase
- make a monkey of
(or out of)
make (someone) appear ridiculous. - a monkey on one's back
informal a burdensome problem. - not give a monkey's
Brit. informal not care at all.
Derivative
Etymology
C16: of unknown origin, perh. from Low Ger.