ba·boon / baˈboōn/ • n. a large Old World ground-dwelling monkey (Papio, Mandrillus, and other genera, family Cercopithecidae) with a long doglike snout and large teeth. Species include the drill and mandrill. ∎  an ugly or uncouth person.ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French babuin or medieval Latin babewynus, perhaps from Old French baboue ‘grimace.’

baboon Large, African monkey with a dog-like face, which walks on all fours. Its buttocks have callus-like pads surrounded by brilliantly coloured skin. Baboons are ground dwellers and active by day, travelling in families and larger troops led by old males, usually in open, rocky country. Their diet consists of plants, insects, and small animals. They can carry food in their cheek pouches. The males have large canine teeth up to 5cm (2in) long. Weight: 14–41kg (30–90lb). Genus Chaeropithecus (or Papio).

baboon †grotesque figure XIV; one of a subdivision of monkeys XV. ME. baboyne, babewyn(e) — OF. baboïn (mod. babouin) or medL. babewynus. Ult. orig. uncert.

baboon (Papio) See CERCOPITHECIDAE.