capuchin

American  

[kap-yoo-chin, -shin] / ˈkæp yʊ tʃɪn, -ʃɪn /

noun

1. a Central and South American monkey, Cebus capucinus, having a prehensile tail and hair on the head resembling a cowl.

2. any monkey of the genus Cebus.

3. a hooded cloak for women.

4. Also called Friar Minor Capuchin.  (initial capital letter) a friar belonging to the branch of the Franciscan order that observes vows of poverty and austerity.

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Capuchin ¹ British  

/ ˈkæpjʊtʃɪn, ˈkæpjʊʃɪn /

noun

1. 1. a friar belonging to a strict and autonomous branch of the Franciscan order founded in 1525

   2. ( as modifier )

      a Capuchin friar

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capuchin ² British  

/ -ʃɪn, ˈkæpjʊtʃɪn /

noun

1. any agile intelligent New World monkey of the genus Cebus, inhabiting forests in South America, typically having a cowl of thick hair on the top of the head

2. a woman's hooded cloak

3. (sometimes capital) a rare variety of domestic fancy pigeon

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Etymology

Origin of capuchin

1590–1600; < Middle French < Italian cappuccino, equivalent to cappucc ( io ) capuche + -ino -ine ¹

Example Sentences

These tools may help them get at many questions surrounding capuchin monkey behavior, including how they decide whether to cooperate or compete with one another while they are interacting in their natural world.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2024

If a species is a generalist, able to adapt to its circumstances — think about the racoons or deer in your suburban neighborhood, or the capuchin in this study — it may need less help.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2024

In one famous experiment, researchers trained two capuchin monkeys to hand them tokens in exchange for a cucumber snack.

From New York Times • Oct. 19, 2023

Humans last shared a common ancestor with capuchin monkeys about 35 million years ago and with macaques about 25 million years ago, Luncz says.

From Scientific American • Mar. 10, 2023

Legal force could have no power over the capuchin; the clergy were entirely exempt from secular jurisdiction.

From The Betrothed From the Italian of Alessandro Manzoni by Manzoni, Alessandro