capuchin
capuchin Lexical Profile
capuchin Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A diurnal, highly intelligent New World monkey of the family Cebidae, native to Central and South America, characterized by a cowl of hair on the head resembling a monk's hood.
"The capuchin used a heavy stone as an anvil to crack open the tough palm nuts."
A friar belonging to a strict branch of the Franciscan Catholic order, established in the 16th century and known for wearing distinctive pointed brown hoods.
"The Capuchin devoted his life to poverty, preaching, and tending to the marginalized members of the community."
A woman's long cloak featuring a hood, modeled after the habit worn by Capuchin friars and widely popular in the 18th century.
"She wrapped her dark capuchin tightly around her shoulders to ward off the biting evening wind."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word is capitalized ('Capuchin') when referring to the Catholic religious order, but typically lowercase ('capuchin') when referring to the monkey or the historical garment.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From French 'capucin', from Italian 'cappuccino' (a Capuchin friar), derived from 'cappuccio' meaning 'hood'. The monkey was named for its coloring, which resembles the brown cowls worn by these friars.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.