gibbon

¹

[ gib-uhn ]

noun

1. any of the small arboreal apes of the East Indies and southern Asia that belong to the four genera of the family Hylobatidae (the lesser apes), displaying strong territorial behavior with vigorous vocalization and having wrists much like ball-and-socket joints: all species are reduced in number, and most are endangered.

Gibbon

²

[ gib-uhn ]

noun

1. Edward, 1737–94, English historian.

gibbon

¹

/ ˈɡɪbən /

noun

1. any small agile arboreal anthropoid ape of the genus Hylobates, inhabiting forests in S Asia

Gibbon

²

/ ˈɡɪbən /

noun

1. GibbonEdward17371794MEnglishHISTORY: historian Edward. 1737–94, English historian; author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776–88), controversial in its historical criticism of Christianity
2. GibbonLewis Grassic19011935MScottishWRITING: writer Lewis Grassic (ˈɡræsɪk), real name James Leslie Mitchell . 1901–35, Scottish writer: best known for his trilogy of novels Scots Quair (1932–34)

Word History and Origins

Origin of gibbon¹

First recorded in 1760–70; from French, used by Georges Buffon; further origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of gibbon¹

C18: from French, probably from an Indian dialect word

Example Sentences

Some traits of the fossil species were precursors of slightly different traits in modern gibbons, the researchers suggest.

From Science News

Eventually, the scientists observed the gibbons crossing the bridge about as frequently as the animals had traveled that stretch of forest before the landslide.

From Science News

Occasionally, gibbons scampered across without holding on with their upper limbs.

From Science News

Though slow to adopt it, the gibbons increasingly traveled a bridge made of two ropes that was installed across the 15-meter gap, researchers report October 15 in Scientific Reports.

From Science News

The tooth is the oldest known fossil from a gibbon ancestor, says Gilbert, of Hunter College at the City University of New York.

From Science News

They have been predicting “the fall of America” for years, in the way that Gibbon described the fall of Rome.

From The Daily Beast

Another famous man was born at Putney: Edward Gibbon, the historian.

From Project Gutenberg

Gibbon was, in fine, exceedingly human, and his person was almost grotesque.

From Project Gutenberg

Of the apes, though many can stand upright, the gibbon is the only one that attempts to walk in this position.

From Project Gutenberg

Their motion is like that of the gibbon when in haste, a series of jumps or swings between the supporting arms.

From Project Gutenberg

Their attitude is in all cases an approach toward the erect one, which posture is attained by the gibbon.

From Project Gutenberg