talapoin

American  

[tal-uh-poin] / ˈtæl əˌpɔɪn /

noun

1. a small, yellowish guenon monkey, Micropithecus (Cercopithecus ) talapoin, of western Africa.

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talapoin British  

/ ˈtæləˌpɔɪn /

noun

1. the smallest of the guenon monkeys, Cercopithecus talapoin, of swampy central W African forests, having olive-green fur and slightly webbed digits

2. 1. a Buddhist monk

   2. a title of respect used in addressing such a monk

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Etymology

Origin of talapoin

1580–90; < French, special use (originally jocular) of talapoin Buddhist monk < Mon tɔelaʔ pian (written tīla puin ) Buddha, literally, the Lord of Merit ( Old Mon tirlaaʾ lord + Pali puñña merit)

Example Sentences

Every individual talapoin has his own house, which is very small, set upon six or eight posts, and to which they have to go up by a ladder of twelve or fourteen staves.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 07 by Kerr, Robert