Bushbaby

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbʊʃˌbeɪbi/

Definitions

1. A small, agile primate from Africa recognized for its large eyes and ability to leap between trees
2. A nocturnal tree-dwelling animal known for its expressive features and remarkable leaping skills
3. A tiny, nocturnal primate native to Africa, noted for its large, round eyes and exceptional jumping abilities through the trees

Etymology: The bushbaby is named for two plain English words put together: "bush," the scrubby woodland it lives in, and "baby," for its small size and its infant-like cry. The animal is a nocturnal primate native to sub-Saharan Africa, and the name is a compound formed in English rather than a word borrowed from an African language. The compound works the way many animal names do, pairing a habitat with a familiar human comparison. Bushbabies are small, large-eyed, and often heard before they are seen, calling out in the dark with a wail that sounds disconcertingly like a child crying. "Bush" carries the sense of the open country and scrub where they live, while "baby" points to their size and the sound.