Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.697

c10.697

**BABOON**, s. This, no doubt, comes to us through the Ital. *babuino*; but it is probable that the latter word is a corruption of Pers. *maimūn* [‘the auspicious one’], and then applied by way of euphemism or irony to the baboon or monkey. It also occurs in Ital. under the more direct form of *maimone* in *gatto-maimone*, ‘cat-monkey,’ or rather ‘monkey-cat.’ [The *N.E.D.* leaves the origin of the word doubtful, and does not discuss this among other suggested derivations.]