A baboon is a large monkey with a long snout, strong jaws, and a short tail, found mainly in Africa and Arabia. Baboons live in groups and spend time both on the ground and in trees.
From Middle French “babouin,” possibly from “babe,” meaning “grimace,” referring to its facial expressions. The exact origin is uncertain but likely imitates the animal’s appearance or sounds.
The word may come from how people reacted to their faces—like calling them “little grimacers.” It’s a reminder that early names for animals were often emotional comments, not scientific labels.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.