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Barbary ape

noun

  1. a tailless macaque, Macaca sylvanus, of mountain ranges in northwestern Africa, now greatly reduced in number: a small, managed colony of unknown origin is maintained on the Rock of Gibraltar.


Barbary ape

noun

  1. a tailless macaque, Macaca sylvana , that inhabits rocky cliffs and forests in NW Africa and Gibraltar: family Cercopithecidae , order Primates


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Word History and Origins

Origin of Barbary ape1

First recorded in 1870–75

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Example Sentences

The magot is sometimes known as the Barbary ape, although of course it is not really an ape at all.

Every fireman, and occasionally an engineer, on the passing trains, had a shot with a lump of coal at the Barbary ape.

The Simia Inues, or Barbary ape, seems to be one, as we might expect.

The Primates are represented by one form only, the Barbary ape, found in Gibraltar.

Beware especially, in this house, of the paws of Marie, the Barbary ape.

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BarbaryBarbary Coast