Word Meanings - MONKEY - Book Publishers vocabulary database

dim. of monna an ape, also dame, mistress, contr. fr. madonna. See In the most general sense, any one of the Quadrumana, including apes, baboons, and lemurs. Any species of Quadrumana, except the lemurs. Any one of numerous species of Quadrumana

Additional info about word: MONKEY

dim. of monna an ape, also dame, mistress, contr. fr. madonna. See In the most general sense, any one of the Quadrumana, including apes, baboons, and lemurs. Any species of Quadrumana, except the lemurs. Any one of numerous species of Quadrumana (esp. such as have a long tail and prehensile feet) exclusive of apes and baboons. Note: The monkeys are often divided into three groups: Catarrhines, or Simidæ. These have an oblong head, with the oblique flat nostrils near together. Some have no tail, as the apes. All these are natives of the Old World. Platyrhines, or Cebidæ. These have a round head, with a broad nasal septum, so that the nostrils are wide apart and directed downward. The tail is often prehensile, and the thumb is short and not opposable. These are natives of the New World. Strepsorhines, or Lemuroidea. These have a pointed head with curved nostrils. They are natives of Southern Asia, Africa, and Madagascar. 2. A term of disapproval, ridicule, or contempt, as for mischievous child. This is the monkey's own giving out; she is persuaded I will marry her. Shak. 3. The weight or hammer of a pile driver, that is, a very heavy mass of iron, which, being raised on high, falls on the head of the pile, and drives it into the earth; the falling weight of a drop hammer used in forging. 4. A small trading vessel of the sixteenth century. Monkey boat. A small boat used in docks. A half-decked boat used on the River Thames. -- Monkey block , a small single block strapped with a swivel. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Monkey flower , a plant of the genus Mimulus; -- so called from the appearance of its gaping corolla. Gray. -- Monkey gaff , a light gaff attached to the topmast for the better display of signals at sea. -- Monkey jacket, a short closely fitting jacket, worn by sailors. -- Monkey rail , a second and lighter rail raised about six inches above the quarter rail of a ship. -- Monkey shine, monkey trick. -- Monkey trick, a mischievous prank. Saintsbury. -- Monkey wheel. See Gin block, under 5th Gin. -- Monkey wrench, a wrench or spanner having a movable jaw.

Related words: (words related to MONKEY)

• CONTRALTO
  The part sung by the highest male or lowest female voices; the alto or counter tenor. the voice or singer performing this part; as, her voice is a contralto; she is a contralto. Note: The usual range of the contralto voice is from G, below middle
• CONTROVERSER
  A disputant.
• CONTRADISTINGUISH
  To distinguish by a contrast of opposite qualities. These are our complex ideas of soul and body, as contradistinguished. Locke.
• EXCEPT
  1. To take or leave out from a number or a whole as not belonging to it; to exclude; to omit. Who never touched The excepted tree. Milton. Wherein all other things concurred. Bp. Stillingfleet. 2. To object to; to protest against. Shak.
• SENSE
  A faculty, possessed by animals, of perceiving external objects by means of impressions made upon certain organs (sensory or sense organs) of the body, or of perceiving changes in the condition of the body; as, the senses of sight, smell, hearing,
• CONTRADICTABLE
  Capable of being contradicting.
• CONTRARIANT
  Contrary; opposed; antagonistic; inconsistent; contradictory. The struggles of contrariant factions. Coleridge. (more info) oppose, fr. L. contrarius: cf. F. contrariant, p.pr. of contrarier to
• CONTRADISTINCT
  Distinguished by opposite qualities. J. Goodwin.
• CONTROVERSAL
  1. Turning or looking opposite ways. The temple of Janus, with his two controversal faces. Milton. 2. Controversal. Boyle.
• CONTRARIETY
  1. The state or quality of being contrary; opposition; repugnance; disagreement; antagonism. There is a contrariety between those things that conscience inclines to, and those that entertain the senses. South. 2. Something which is contrary to,
• CONTRIBUTIONAL
  Pertaining to, or furnishing, a contribution.
• CONTRABAND
  1. Illegal or prohobited traffic. Persons the most bound in duty to prevent contraband, and the most interested in the seizures. Burke. 2. Goods or merchandise the importation or exportation of which is forbidden. 3. A negro slave, during the Civil
• CONTRADICTIVE
  Contradictory; inconsistent. -- Con`tra*dict"ive*ly, adv..
• CONTROLLABLENESS
  Capability of being controlled.
• CONTRAVENE
  1. To meet in the way of opposition; to come into conflict with; to oppose; to contradict; to obstruct the operation of; to defeat. So plain a proposition . . . was not likely to be contravened. Southey. 2. To violate; to nullify; to
• CONTRAPUNTIST
  One skilled in counterpoint. L. Mason.
• GENERALIZED
  Comprising structural characters which are separated in more specialized forms; synthetic; as, a generalized type.
• GENERALIZABLE
  Capable of being generalized, or reduced to a general form of statement, or brought under a general rule. Extreme cases are . . . not generalizable. Coleridge
• CONTRIST
  To make sad. To deject and contrist myself. Sterne.
• CONTRACTIBLE
  Capable of contraction. Small air bladders distable and contractible. Arbuthnot.
• MAJOR GENERAL
  . An officer of the army holding a rank next above that of brigadier general and next below that of lieutenant general, and who usually commands a division or a corps.
• INSENSE
  To make to understand; to instruct. Halliwell.
• INNUMEROUS
  Innumerable. Milton.
• SUBCONTRACTOR
  One who takes a portion of a contract, as for work, from the principal contractor.