View synonyms for gibbon

gibbon

[ gib-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of the small arboreal apes of the East Indies and southern Asia that belong to the four genera of the family Hylobatidae (the lesser apes), displaying strong territorial behavior with vigorous vocalization and having wrists much like ball-and-socket joints: all species are reduced in number, and most are endangered.

Gibbon

[ gib-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

Gibbon

/ ˈɡɪbən /

GibbonEdward17371794MEnglishHISTORY: historian Edward. 1737–94, English historian; author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776–88), controversial in its historical criticism of Christianity
GibbonLewis Grassic19011935MScottishWRITING: writer Lewis Grassic (ˈɡræsɪk), real name James Leslie Mitchell . 1901–35, Scottish writer: best known for his trilogy of novels Scots Quair (1932–34)

gibbon

/ ˈɡɪbən /

any small agile arboreal anthropoid ape of the genus Hylobates, inhabiting forests in S Asia

Origin of gibbon¹

First recorded in 1760–70; from French, used by Georges Buffon; further origin uncertain

Origin of gibbon¹

C18: from French, probably from an Indian dialect word

They have been predicting “the fall of America” for years, in the way that Gibbon described the fall of Rome.

Another famous man was born at Putney: Edward Gibbon, the historian.

Gibbon was, in fine, exceedingly human, and his person was almost grotesque.

Of the apes, though many can stand upright, the gibbon is the only one that attempts to walk in this position.

Their motion is like that of the gibbon when in haste, a series of jumps or swings between the supporting arms.

Their attitude is in all cases an approach toward the erect one, which posture is attained by the gibbon.

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