Banderlog

/ˈbændərˌlɔːg/ noun

Definition

In Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, the Bandar-log are a tribe of monkeys known for being reckless, chattering, and lacking serious purpose; often used to describe disorganized, chaotic groups.

Etymology

From Hindi bandar (monkey) plus log (people). Kipling created this as a fictional word for his stories, blending Hindi vocabulary. The term has entered English as a reference to monkeys or chaotic crowds.

Kelly Says

Kipling invented Banderlog as a commentary on colonialism—the purposeless, chattering monkeys represented colonists and their meaningless conquests; it's one of the most brilliant insults hidden in a children's book!

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