Ouistitis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small, brightly colored New World monkey of the genus Callithrix, noted for its distinctive facial markings and lively behavior; also called a marmoset
2. A diminutive primate species native to tropical South American forests, characterized by a long tail and agile movements; members belong to the marmoset group
3. A tiny monkey found mainly in forested areas of Central and South America, recognized for its vocalizations and social nature, commonly grouped with small primates known as marmosets

Etymology: "Ouistitis" is simply the plural of "ouistiti," the French name for these small monkeys, so the word itself is best understood through its singular. "Ouistiti" is a French word, and English speakers borrowed it for the marmosets and their close relatives. The plural form appears when writers refer to more than one of these animals, following the French convention of adding an "s" to a noun ending in "i" when it is pluralized, as "ouistitis" does here.

Synonyms: marmosets, monkeys, primates, lemmurs, tamarins