orang
UK[ˈɔːræŋ]US[ˈɔːræŋ]
n
A large, intelligent ape with long arms and reddish-brown hair, native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra.
Etymology
The word 'orang' is a loanword from Malay, where it is a shortened form of 'orang utan'. In Malay, 'orang' means 'person' or 'man', and 'hutan' means 'forest'; thus, 'orang hutan' literally translates to 'person of the forest'. This term was adopted into English in the 17th century, initially in the fuller form 'orang-outang', to refer specifically to the great ape. Over time, the shortened form 'orang' emerged as a colloquial term for the animal, retaining the core semantic link to its original description as a forest-dwelling, human-like creature.
Analysis
N/A
Examples
The zoo's new orang seemed fascinated by the visitors.
We observed a mother orang carefully building a nest high in the canopy.
Conservation efforts are critical for protecting the remaining wild orang populations.