hamadryas baboon

[ ham-uh-drahy-uhs ]

noun

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hamadryas baboon¹

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