Macaco

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Primarily referring to a monkey of various species found in tropical regions; can also denote a term of endearment in some cultures or languages; used to describe a lively or playful person in casual speech
2. Often signifies a type of primate commonly seen in zoos or wild; it may also relate to affectionate or humorous expressions among friends; sometimes labeled as a way to describe someone energetic or spirited
3. This term is associated with different types of monkeys known for their social nature; it can serve as a friendly nickname in particular contexts; it is also used colloquially to suggest someone with a vibrant personality

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "macaco" is that it began as the name of a lemur, not a monkey. The Portuguese word "macaco" means "monkey," and the English term is a doublet of "macaque," both drawn from it. But the chain runs further back: French "mococo" probably came from Malagasy "maka" or "maki," the word for lemur in Madagascar, the island where lemurs live and where Portuguese traders encountered them. An illustration from 1788 shows the ring-tailed lemur labelled as the ring-tailed "maca(u)co," so the name was first attached to that animal before it spread to monkeys generally. From there the word took on the broader sense of a primate, and its friendlier uses grew from that. Its nickname and colloquial meanings, which praise someone's lively personality, build on the image of an animal known for its social, animated behaviour.

Synonyms: monkey, macaque