act like a monkey; imitate a monkey; make mischief, clown around
type of agile tree-dwelling mammal of the order Primates (not including humanoid apes, lemurs, or humans); mischievous child or person; 500 Pounds Sterling (British Slang)
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Monkey Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
(v. t. & i.)
To act or treat as a monkey does; to ape; to act in a grotesque or meddlesome manner.
To act or treat as a monkey does; to ape; to act in a grotesque or meddlesome manner.
(n.)
The weight or hammer of a pile driver, that is, a very heavy mass of iron, which, being raised on high, falls on the head of the pile, and drives it into the earth; the falling weight of a drop hammer used in forging.
The weight or hammer of a pile driver, that is, a very heavy mass of iron, which, being raised on high, falls on the head of the pile, and drives it into the earth; the falling weight of a drop hammer used in forging.
(n.)
In the most general sense, any one of the Quadrumana, including apes, baboons, and lemurs.
In the most general sense, any one of the Quadrumana, including apes, baboons, and lemurs.
(n.)
Any species of Quadrumana, except the lemurs.
Any species of Quadrumana, except the lemurs.
(n.)
Any one of numerous species of Quadrumana (esp. such as have a long tail and prehensile feet) exclusive of apes and baboons.
Any one of numerous species of Quadrumana (esp. such as have a long tail and prehensile feet) exclusive of apes and baboons.
(n.)
A term of disapproval, ridicule, or contempt, as for a mischievous child.
A term of disapproval, ridicule, or contempt, as for a mischievous child.
(n.)
A small trading vessel of the sixteenth century.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter. AboutA small trading vessel of the sixteenth century.
monkey
\mon"key\, v. t. & i. to act or treat as a monkey does; to ape; to act in a grotesque or meddlesome manner.
similar words(43)
lion monkey
monkey boat
monkey up
proboscis monkey
green monkey
monkey wheel
king monkey
night monkey
monkey pod
titi monkey
monkey flower
black-crested monkey
negro monkey
monkey wrench
monkey block
monkey around
capucine monkey
monkey nut
monkey jacket
monkey gaff
monkey shine
monkey rail
moor monkey
monkey trick
to monkey with
monkey-cup
diana monkey
widow monkey
water monkey
monkey-bread
bonnet monkey
owl monkey
squirrel monkey
monkey-pot
woolly monkey
rhesus monkey
powder monkey
howling monkey
winking monkey
vervet monkey
scratch monkey
ventriloquist monkey
infinite-monkey theorem
Meaning
Very cold weather conditions.
Origin
Uncertain origin.
Some references say that the brass triangles that supported stacks of iron cannonballs on sailing ships were called monkeys and that in cold weather, as brass contracts more than iron, the triangles contracted sufficiently for the balls to fall off.
No one has been able to provide evidence that such devices were called monkeys, or even that they existed.
The Royal Navy records that, on their ships at least, planks with circular holes were used to store cannonballs. Also, a little geometry shows that a pyramid of balls will topple over if the base is tilted by more than 30 degrees. This movement is commonplace on sailing ships and it just isn't plausible that cannonballs were stacked this way.
If we discount all of the above and for the sake of argument assume that the contraction of a brass triangle would cause a stack of balls to fall over, science comes to the rescue again. The coefficient of expansion of brass is 0.000019; that of iron is 0.000012. If the base of the stack were one metre long the drop in temperature needed to make the 'monkey' shrink relative to the balls by a millimetre, would be around 100 degrees Celcius. It is hardly credible that amount of change would have the slightest effect. In any case in weather like that the sailors would probably have better things to think about.
I don't know what a nautical version of an urban myth is called, but whatever it is this story warrants its use.
© 2004 The Phrase Finder. Take a look at Phrase Finder’s sister site, the Phrases Thesaurus, a subscription service for professional writers & language lovers.Very cold weather conditions.
Origin
Uncertain origin.
Some references say that the brass triangles that supported stacks of iron cannonballs on sailing ships were called monkeys and that in cold weather, as brass contracts more than iron, the triangles contracted sufficiently for the balls to fall off.
No one has been able to provide evidence that such devices were called monkeys, or even that they existed.
The Royal Navy records that, on their ships at least, planks with circular holes were used to store cannonballs. Also, a little geometry shows that a pyramid of balls will topple over if the base is tilted by more than 30 degrees. This movement is commonplace on sailing ships and it just isn't plausible that cannonballs were stacked this way.
If we discount all of the above and for the sake of argument assume that the contraction of a brass triangle would cause a stack of balls to fall over, science comes to the rescue again. The coefficient of expansion of brass is 0.000019; that of iron is 0.000012. If the base of the stack were one metre long the drop in temperature needed to make the 'monkey' shrink relative to the balls by a millimetre, would be around 100 degrees Celcius. It is hardly credible that amount of change would have the slightest effect. In any case in weather like that the sailors would probably have better things to think about.
I don't know what a nautical version of an urban myth is called, but whatever it is this story warrants its use.
Epa = n. an ape, a monkey
Gwrab = n. a monkey, an ape
Simach = n. a monkey, an ape
Ab, Epa = n. m. ape, monkey
Monkey, (n.)
An arboreal animal which makes itself at home in genealogical trees.
The Devil's Dictionary, by Ambrose Bierce, 1911 (About)An arboreal animal which makes itself at home in genealogical trees.
500
1. (obsolete) sum of fifty pounds or five-hundred pounds; 2. sum of $50 or $500
three balls that hang outside a pawn shop
very cold weather (19th C. US slang; originally referring to a brass figure of a monkey; not, as widely believed, a nautical term relating to cannonballs)
hot
exclamation of disbelief, surprise, etc. (originally a slur at Darwinism)
a guide to how much rain is coming down
trickery; underhand dealing
any obsession, compulsion, or addiction, seen as a burden, as a compulsion to work or an addiction to drugs
dinner suit
very cold
smb. is ugly
Noun
1. any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
(hypernym) primate
(hyponym) Old World monkey, catarrhine
2. one who is playfully mischievous
(synonym) imp, scamp, rascal, rapscallion, scalawag, scallywag
(hypernym) child, kid, youngster, minor, shaver, nipper, small fry, tiddler, tike, tyke, fry, nestling
(hyponym) terror, brat, little terror, holy terror
(derivation) tamper, fiddle
Verb
1. play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly; "Someone tampered with the documents on my desk"; "The reporter fiddle with the facts"
(synonym) tamper, fiddle
(hypernym) manipulate
(derivation) imp, scamp, rascal, rapscallion, scalawag, scallywag
2. do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly; "The old lady is usually mucking about in her little house"
(synonym) putter, mess around, potter, tinker, monkey around, muck about, muck around
(hypernym) work
(hyponym) puddle
Monkey Definition from Social Science Dictionaries & Glossaries
To dream of a monkey, denotes that deceitful people will flatter you to advance their own interests.
To see a dead monkey, signifies that your worst enemies will soon be removed.
If a young woman dreams of a monkey, she should insist on an early marriage, as her lover will suspect unfaithfulness.
For a woman to dream of feeding a monkey, denotes that she will be betrayed by a flatterer.
Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted, or "What's in a dream": a scientific and practical exposition; By Gustavus Hindman, 1910. For the open domain e-text see: Guttenberg ProjectTo see a dead monkey, signifies that your worst enemies will soon be removed.
If a young woman dreams of a monkey, she should insist on an early marriage, as her lover will suspect unfaithfulness.
For a woman to dream of feeding a monkey, denotes that she will be betrayed by a flatterer.
Monkey Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
A monkey is a primate of the Haplorrhini suborder and simian infraorder, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey, but excluding apes. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys usually have tails. Tailless monkeys may be called "apes", incorrectly according to modern usage; thus the tailless Barbary macaque is called the "Barbary ape".
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Monkey is the dubbed English language version of the Japanese television series , based on the classic sixteenth century Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en. It was originally produced by Nippon Television (NTV) and International Television Films in association with NHK.
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"Monkey" is a US number-one hit song by George Michael. It was released as a single in 1988 and reached #1 on the US Hot 100 and #13 on the UK Singles Chart. "Monkey" debuted at #42 on 9 July 1988, reaching #1 for two weeks, beginning 27 August 1988.
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Monkey Definition from Sports Dictionaries & Glossaries
An iron sliding ram used in driving in armour bolts in ironclad ships.
Monkey Definition from Religion & Spirituality Dictionaries & Glossaries
Monkey Any simian, but often restricted to the smaller, long-tailed simians, in contradistinction to apes. These monkeys according to occult history are descended from the offspring of unawakened human beings of the third root-race, who united with certain animals. The larger anthropoid simians or apes were produced later by renewed intercourse between undeveloped Atlanteans and the then existing part-human, part-animal descendants of the creatures just described. Thus, in theosophical writings, a distinction is drawn between simians or true monkeys, and the anthropoids or true apes.
The earliest race of human beings on this earth, of the third root-race, presented an appearance which today would be called to a certain extent monkey-like, but not because they were monkeys or descended from simians, but because that was the appearance presented by early human bodies. The apes and monkeys being descended at different times from the human race as one side of their ancestry, naturally show somewhat of the physical characteristics of these early human parents of their own stock on one side. See also ANTHROPOID
The earliest race of human beings on this earth, of the third root-race, presented an appearance which today would be called to a certain extent monkey-like, but not because they were monkeys or descended from simians, but because that was the appearance presented by early human bodies. The apes and monkeys being descended at different times from the human race as one side of their ancestry, naturally show somewhat of the physical characteristics of these early human parents of their own stock on one side. See also ANTHROPOID
