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Definition of aye-aye

aye-aye

Plural:aye-ayes
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• noun

1

A rare, nocturnal, and arboreal lemur native exclusively to Madagascar, characterized by its continuously growing rodent-like teeth, large eyes, and an elongated, skeletal middle finger used to tap on wood and extract insect grubs.

Example

"The documentary crew spent weeks in the remote Madagascan rainforest hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive aye-aye foraging at night."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for aye-aye

Word Nuance & Usage

In Malagasy folklore, the aye-aye is widely considered a harbinger of bad luck or a symbol of evil, which has tragically led to its historical persecution.

• Nearby Words

ay
ayatollah
aye
aye-aye
aymara
aysen
aysen river

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Aye-aye. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/aye--aye
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