TALAPOIN

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 23 April 2012

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TALAPOIN  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) a small monkey of central and western Africa
2. (n.) a Buddhist monk or priest

Useful info for word game players:

• Back hooks: -S
• Front hooks: (none)
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Current theme:
   Unusual primate names


Epilogue:

The name for this small African monkey comes from the Portuguese talapao, a word for a type of Buddhist monk.  The ultimate derivation is probably tala poi (“my lord”), a phrase from the Old Teguan language, the modern form of which is known as Mon and is spoken in Burma and Thailand.  The TALAPOIN monkey was given the moniker because of its supposed resemblance to a Buddhist monk. 

Similarly, the CAPUCHIN monkey is named after its supposed resemblance to the hood-wearing Capuchin order of monks.  The coffee drink known as CAPPUCCINO is named after the same monastic order, probably because the color of the drink somewhat resembles the hue of the monks’ brown cowls.

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