Barbary ape

noun

Bar·​ba·​ry ape ˈbär-b(ə-)rē- How to pronounce Barbary ape (audio)
: a tailless monkey (Macaca sylvanus) of northern Africa and Gibraltar

called also Barbary macaque

Examples of Barbary ape in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Janice Mullin and her husband, Jeff, were waiting to tour caves as part of a shore excursion in Gibraltar during a 2012 cruise when a Barbary ape jumped up on a bench beside her. Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

barbary coast, Africa

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Barbary ape was in 1775

Dictionary Entries Near Barbary ape

Cite this Entry

“Barbary ape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Barbary%20ape. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Barbary ape

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!