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

It's also the same size as a modern-day talapoin monkey, which are widespread throughout Africa, according to the Encyclopedia of Life.

From Fox News

Is it necessary to exhibit such spectacles to a mighty potentate, with interludes of talapoins* more mangy than dogs?

From Project Gutenberg

In Pegu, there are many priests or talapoins, as they are called, who preach against all abuses, and many people resort to hear them.

From Project Gutenberg

Modern-day talapoins live in tropical forests, but researchers are still unclear what caused the evolution of monkeys.

From Fox News

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 Project Gutenberg