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.