Ouakari

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of monkey found in the Amazon rainforest characterized by its distinctive red face and long tail
2. This primate species is known for its social behavior and often inhabits treetops in tropical forests
3. A member of the family Pitheciidae, this monkey is notable for its unique appearance and limited geographical distribution

Etymology: The uakari is a South American monkey with a bald, often reddish face, and its name came into English from Brazil. The Portuguese of Brazil borrowed it as "uacari", which in turn came from Nheengatu, the Tupi-based lingua franca once widely spoken along the Amazon. The Nheengatu form "wakarí" is thought to descend from an older Tupi word, possibly "akaka'i", though the earlier history is not firmly established. The spelling "ouakari" is an alternative form of the same word, with "ou" standing in for the "u" of the usual English spelling. Both versions point back to a single Amazonian source, so the name passed through several languages without being translated along the way.

Synonyms: red uakari, Cacajao