Macacos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Referring to a type of Old World monkey belonging to the genus Macaca known for their adaptability and social behavior; a term used to denote several species of monkeys native to Asia and North Africa; describing primates characterized by their medium size and omnivorous diet
2. Identifying monkeys recognized by their sturdy bodies and expressive faces typically found across tropical regions of Asia and northern Africa; the designation for a group of primates notable for their complex social structures and varied habitats; indicating animals that exhibit both arboreal and terrestrial tendencies within their environment
3. Denoting members of a primate genus encompassing diverse species primarily distinguished by their ability to thrive in diverse climates; a classification encompassing monkeys often involved in research due to their intelligence and adaptability; pertaining to creatures that display intricate social behaviors and a wide geographic distribution across parts of the Old World

Etymology: "Macacos" is simply the plural of "macaco," so its story is the story of that singular noun. Portuguese "macaco" means "monkey," and the word traveled to English as a doublet of "macaque," the same term arriving by two routes. Its deeper origin lies across the Indian Ocean: French "mococo" probably came from Malagasy "maka" or "maki," the names for lemurs. The surprise is that the word first named a lemur, not a monkey. An 1788 illustration shows a ring-tailed lemur labelled the "ring-tailed maca(u)co," a reminder that early European naming of Madagascar's animals was loose and that the word drifted toward the primates of the Americas and Asia as sailors and naturalists encountered them.

Synonyms: macaques, monkeys