orang-utan

/ ɔːˌræŋuːˈtæŋ; ˌɔːræŋˈuːtæŋ; ˌɔːræŋˈuːtæn; ɔːˌræŋuːˈtæn /

noun

1. a large anthropoid ape, Pongo pygmaeus, of the forests of Sumatra and Borneo, with shaggy reddish-brown hair and strong arms Sometimes shortened toorang

Word History and Origins

Origin of orang-utan¹

C17: from Malay orang hutan, from ōrang man + hūtan forest

Example Sentences

But above all I had come across a great many “orang-utan” (Malay for “jungle-man”) and had been able to study their habits.

From Project Gutenberg

Another very famous ape is the orang-utan, which is found in Borneo and Sumatra.

From Project Gutenberg

My own comparisons shew that of the material at my disposal the mandible of an Orang-utan comes nearest to the Mauer jaw.

From Project Gutenberg

The new-comers owning descent from an Orang-utan-like forerunner are represented by the Aurignac skeleton and its congeners.

From Project Gutenberg

And finally, crossing Makassar Straits, we come to Borneo, the habitat of the head-hunter and the orang-utan.

From Project Gutenberg