vervet
pronunciation
How to pronounce vervet in British English:
UK ['vɜ:vet]
How to pronounce vervet in American English:
US ['vɜvet]
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- Noun:
- South African monkey with black face and hands
Word Origin
- vervet (n.)
- South African monkey, 1884, from French (Cuvier), of unknown origin, perhaps short for vert grivet, literally "a green grivet," indicating it was greener than the kind of monkey known as a grivet (itself a name of unknown origin). "Vervets are among the monkeys carried about by organ-grinders" [Century Dictionary].
Example
- 1. I became acquainted with other animals : troops of vervet and redtail monkeys ; the beautiful red colobus monkey ; the shy bushbuck ; the fat ginger bush pig .
- 2. Several years ago , melissa hines , of city university in london , and gerianne alexander , of texas a & m university , gave some vervet monkeys a selection of toys , including rag dolls , pans , balls and trucks .