orang-outang

An orang-outang swings from a branch in the rainforest.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Large anthropoid ape: "orang-outang" refers to a large, long-armed ape (genus Pongo) native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, characterized by its reddish-brown hair and arboreal lifestyle.
   • Alternative spelling: "orang-outang" is a variant spelling of "orangutan" (or "orang-utan"), derived from Malay and Indonesian words meaning "person of the forest."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The orang-outang swung gracefully from branch to branch in the zoo's enclosure. (A large ape moving through trees.)
  • Conservationists are working to protect the endangered orang-outang from habitat loss. (Efforts to preserve the species.)

Advanced Usage

• "Orang-outang" in scientific contexts: The term is sometimes used in older or literary texts to refer specifically to the Bornean or Sumatran orangutan species. In modern usage, "orangutan" is more common.
  • In his travelogue, the explorer described the shy orang-outang of the Bornean jungle. (A historical or descriptive reference.)

Variants and Related Words

• Orangutan (n): the standard modern spelling of the same animal.

  • The orangutan is known for its intelligence and use of tools. (The same ape species.)

• Orang-utan (n): another common variant spelling, often used in British English.

  • The orang-utan's diet consists mainly of fruit and leaves. (Dietary description.)

Synonyms

• Great ape: a broader category that includes orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos.
• Pongo: the scientific genus name for orangutans.
  • Pongo pygmaeus is the scientific name for the Bornean orangutan.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms directly use "orang-outang," but it may appear in figurative language to describe a clumsy or hairy person (though this is considered outdated and potentially offensive).
  • He lumbered through the room like an orang-outang. (A clumsy or ungainly movement, now rare and informal.)