orangutan
UK[ɔːˈræŋ.uːˌtæn]US[əˈræŋ.əˌtæn]
n
a large ape with long arms and reddish-brown hair, found in the rainforests of borneo and sumatra.
Etymology
the word 'orangutan' is a loanword borrowed into english from malay. in malay, it is a compound of 'orang', meaning 'person' or 'man', and 'hutan', meaning 'forest'. thus, the term literally translates to 'person of the forest', a name given by local people to describe these large, intelligent primates. the word entered european languages through dutch in the 17th century, with the spelling adapting to english conventions. its journey reflects the colonial-era exchange of biological knowledge and the direct adoption of indigenous names for newly encountered species.
Analysis
n/a
Examples
the orangutan used a stick as a tool to extract honey from a beehive.
deforestation poses a severe threat to the remaining orangutan populations.
we observed a mother orangutan carefully teaching her infant how to forage for fruit.