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bushbaby

bushbaby

9.3
A small African night animal like a monkey with big eyes, big ears and a long tail
  • noun
  • /ˈbʌʃˌbeɪi/
  • South African
translation icon : bushbaby
  • The bushbaby is known for its incredible agility as it leaps between the branches at night.

Examples

  • Bushbabies!

  • During our safari, we spotted a bushbaby perched on a tree branch with its big eyes wide open.

  • In the dark, the bushbaby's large ears and sensitive eyes help it navigate through the dense forest.

Synonyms

bush baby
vsbushbaby
  • South African
1 8.4

A small animal from Africa that is active at night with big eyes and a long tail

is written as one word rather than as two separate words
galago
vsbushbaby
  • South African
1 9.9

A small African primate with large eyes, big ears, and a long tail that is active at night

is the same animal but uses the other word instead
genus Galago
vsbushbaby
  • Specialized
9.9

A small primate active at night, like a bush baby from Africa

applies to one kind of animal rather than the broader genus group

Surface Forms

bushbaby singular
bushbabies plural

Etymology

Bushbaby comes from the simple words bush ('wild area') and baby; people gave this name because the small animal lives in the bush and makes high cries that sound like a 'baby'. So the name helps you remember that a bushbaby is a small, night-active African primate with big eyes and loud, baby-like calls.