subs. (common).—A term of abuse: see APE. Whence BABOONERY; BABOONISH; and BABOONIZE = TO MONKEY (q.v.).
1380–5. WYCLIF, Works [E.E.T.S.], 8. [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 148. There is the curious BABWYNRIE formed from BABOON.]
c. 1500. Robin Hood [RITSON], xi. 238. He then began to storm, Cries Fool, fanatick, BABOON!
1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse, His Supplication to the Divell, E. j. b. Is it anie discredit to me, thou great BABOUND … to be censured by thee?
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 2 Henry IV., ii. 4. He a good wit? Hang him, BABOON! His wit’s as thick as Tewkesbury mustard.
1610. JONSON, The Alchemist, i. 1.
| Why so, my good BABOONS! Shall we go make | |
| A sort of sober, scurvy, precise neighbours? |
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Babouïnner. To BABOONIZE it; to play the Monkey; to use apish or foolish tricks, waggish or knauish prankes; also, to deceive, cosen, gull.
1628. WITHER, Britain’s Remembrancer, I. 977. Such Apes, and such BABOONES As Parasites, and impudent Buffoones.
1678. WYCHERLEY, The Plain Dealer, ii. 1. 25. No chattering, BABOONS, instantly be gone!
1836. E. HOWARD, Rattlin, the Reefer, xix. How great the improvement was that BABOONERY had made toward manhood.
1857. The National Magazine, II. 168. Oranges which he demolished in a style of the most perfect BABOONERY.
