Forms: 4 baboyne, babewyne, 5 babewyn, -ewin, -ewen, -wyn, -wen, baubyn, 6 babound, baboyn, babwyne, 6–7 baboune, baboone, 6– baboon. [a. F. babuin (13th c.), mod. babouin, or ad. med.L. babewynus (used in England 1295, see Du Cange), found also in the forms babouinus, baboynus, babuynus (some, if not all, of which are merely latinized from F. or Eng.); = It. babbuino, Sp. babuino. French has also babion, treated by Littré as a distinct word, but in Eng. identified with baboon, and the source of LG. bavian, Du. baviaan, HG. pavian, baboon. The earlier history of the word is unknown.
Diez suggests connection with F. babine the thick lip of a cow, dog, monkey, compared with dial. Ger. bäppe muzzle. Scheler, from its application also to children, refers it to same root as babe or It. babbolo, etc.; others compare med.L. papio (see PAPIOUN), a kind of wild dog mentioned by Jac. de Vitriaco, and Maundevile. Finally we may compare OF. babau, babou, baboue, babouye, baboy, a grimace, a ‘mouth,’ faire la baboue à, to make mouths at. According to Daunon (Hist. Lit., xvi. 39), in 13th c., med.L. babuinare meant ‘to paint marginal figures in MSS.,’ and F. babouin was equivalent to homuncio; in the earliest known F. quotation in Le Dit des XXIII manières de vilains (13th c.), li vilains babuins is a simpleton or ninny, who gapes at the statues in front of Notre Dame while his purse is cut from behind. The original meaning, and the order of the senses, thus remain quite uncertain.]
† 1. A grotesque figure (perhaps of a baboon in sense 2) used in architecture or decorative work.
[Cf. 1405. Test. Ebor., I. 317. Ciphus deauratus, coopertus … de aquilis, leonibus, coronis, et aliis babonibus.]
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1409. Lyfte logges þer-ouer & on lofte coruen, Pared out of paper & poynted of golde, Broþe baboynes abof, besttes an vnder.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xi. The corue knottes by craft of masonry, The freshe enbowing wt verges ryght as lynes, And the housyng ful of babewines [printed backewines].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 20/1. Babewyn, or babewen (1499 babwyn, or babwen), detippus, ipos, figmentum, chimera.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier (1871), 38. Like a half face baubyn in brass.
1860. Our Eng. Home, 72–3. Among the jewels of Edward II. was a spice-plate ‘enamelled with baboons.’
2. A member of one of the great divisions of the Simiadæ or Monkeys, distinguished by a long dog-like snout, large canine teeth or tusks, capacious cheek-pouches, and naked callosities on the buttocks; they are inhabitants of Africa, Southern Asia, and the adjacent islands.
c. 1400. Maundev., xxii. 238. Babewynes, Apes, Marmesettes, and othere dyverse bestes.
1481. Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 98. I wende hit had be a mermoyse, a baubyn, or a mercatte.
1530. Palsgr., 196/1. Babwyne beest, baboyn.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. i. 37. Coole it with a Baboones blood.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., II. 354. The baboon … is from three to four feet high.
1834. [See APE 2.]
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 480. His forehead low as that of a baboon.
3. fig. as a term of abuse; cf. ape.
c. 1500. Robin Hood (Ritson), xi. 238. He then began to storm, Cries Fool, fanatick, baboon!
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse, E j b. Is it anie discredit for me, thou great babound … to be censured by thee?
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., I. 977. Such Apes, and such Baboones, As Parasites, and impudent Buffoones.
1678. Wycherley, Pl.-Dealer, II. i. 25. No chattering, Baboons, instantly be gone.
4. Comb. baboon-bird (see quot.)
1883. Im Thurn, Indians of Guiana, v. 116. The bird (Threnœdus militaris), called in the colony ‘baboon-bird,’ from the resemblance of its deep note to that of the ‘baboon.’
