noun

baboon

ba-BOON/bæˈbuːn/

A large long-snouted monkey of Africa or Arabia.

A baboon sits on the rocky slope, its long muzzle clearly visible.

A single adult olive baboon in three-quarter side view, showing its long doglike muzzle, substantial jaws, robust body, and characteristic bent tail.

Etymology

baboonOld Frenchape; fool; gaping figure

Old French baboin named an ape, a fool, or a gaping decorative figure. English likewise used the word for grotesque architectural figures before applying it to the animal.

In context

WILD NATURE - Nature animal documentary149:52

The olive baboon is the most widely ranging primate in Africa.

Predator vs Prey | Nature's Deadliest Fight Backs for Survival (Full Episode) | Wildlife Documentary

More examples

Several baboons foraged beside the road.
The young baboon clung to its mother's back.
Calling him a baboon was a crude insult, not an argument.

Forms

baboon · baboons

Similar words

monkey: Names the broader group without specifying a baboon's size or muzzle.
brute: As an insult, emphasizes roughness or cruelty rather than foolishness.