Gorilla

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɡəˈɹɪl.ə/

Definitions

1. A large primate native to African forests, characterized by black fur, powerful build, and intelligence, belonging to the genus that includes the closest living relatives to humans
2. A large, strong primate found in Africa, distinguished by its intelligence, black fur, and significant size, which is part of a genus closely related to humans
3. A robust primate species from African rainforests, known for its notable strength, black hair, and high cognitive abilities, being the closest relatives to humans

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "gorilla" is that it began as the name of a group of women. Ancient Greek writers recorded "Gorillai" as the name of a tribe of hairy women on the African coast, reported by Hanno the Navigator, a Carthaginian explorer who may have visited the area that later became Sierra Leone. The Greek term is thought to have come from Punic, the language of Carthage, and ultimately from an African language, though the exact source is uncertain. The animal was not in view when the name was first recorded. Hanno's account described people, and the label was later attached to the great apes that European observers encountered in West Africa. Modern naturalists then adopted the Greek-derived form for the species, so the word passed from an ancient travel report into scientific naming.

Synonyms: ape, primate, great ape, silverback, troglodyte