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

See Examples For:

talapoin

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