hamadryas baboon

[ ham-uh-drahy-uh s ]

/ ˌhæm əˈdraɪ əs /

noun

a baboon, Papio (Comopithecus) hamadryas, of Ethiopia, the male of which has a mantle of long, dark hair about the head and shoulders: held sacred by the ancient Egyptians.

Nearby words

hama,
hamadan,
hamadryad,
hamadryads,
hamadryas,
hamadān,
hamal,
hamamatsu,
hamamelidaceous,
hamamelis

Origin of hamadryas baboon

1930–35; < New Latin hamadryas the specific epithet (see hamadryad)

Also called sacred baboon.