Babel (babel)

[LL. Babel, The Semitic name of the city (Babylon) where, according to Gen. xi., the construction of a tower that would reach to heaven was attempted, and where the confusion of tongues took place. See Babylonian. Hence-2. A lofty structure.3. A visionary scheme.-4. A scene of noise and confusion, as a great city or a riotous a emblage. 'Tis pleasant, through the loopholes of retreat, To peep at such a world-to see the stir Of the great Babel , and not feel the crowd. Cowper, The Task, iv. 90. 408 rus. East Indian Wild Hog ( Babiru a alfurus). canines of the boar are sometimes 12 inches in length, and nearly reach the forehead; the lower pair partake of the same unusual development and direction, but not to the same extent, nor do they pierce the lips. The tusks of the sow are much smaller. The general appearance of the animal is that of hog, but the legs are longer pelage is le brista hoband herbivo food; it is sometimes domesticated. rous, like the rest of the pig tribe, and its flesh is used for 2. [ cap.] A genus of setiferous pachydermatous ungulate quadrupeds, of the order Artiodac tyla, or even-toed ungulates, and family Suida, containing only the babiru a. Also spelled babyru a , babyrou a . babisht (bā'bish), a. [ babe + -ish1.] Like babe; babyish. If he be bashful and will soon blush, they call him a babish and ill brought up thing. Ascham, The Scholemaster, i. baby F. babion), and bavian, after D. baviaan, LG. bavian, > Dan, bavian, G. pavian ), OF. forms appear to be the oldest. The origin of the name is unknown. The Ar. maimün is nous animal of the old world, of the subfamily prob. from the European word.] A quadrumaCynopithecina, and especially of either of the genera Cynocephalus (or Papio ) and Mandrill a (or Mormon ). The baboon has a large prominent muzzle and a low facial angle, constituting a physiognomy to which the term "dog-faced" has been applied. It has cheek-pouches, large canine teeth, tail usually short (whence the term "pig-tailed" applied to some), and large bare ischial callosities, often gayly colored. Its fore and hind limbs are proportionate, so that the animal can go upon all-fours like ordinary quadrupeds, or sit upright like most other monkeys. Baboons are generally large, heavy animals, some equaling a mastiff in size and weight, and are among the most sullen, intractable, ferocious, and filthy brutes of the order to which they belong. Most of them are African, and they are usually gregarious, going in large troops, and feeding on fruits, roots, birds' eggs, insects, etc. Among those which have special names are the anubis, chacma, mandrill, drill, etc. Some of the Quadru mana which belong technically to the same group as the baboons do not usually take the name, as the black ape of Celebes, Cynopithecus niger, and the Barbary ape, Inu us ecaudatus; while some monkeys of other groups are occasionally called baboons. baboonery (ba-bön'e-ri), n.; pl. babooneries (-riz). [ baboon + -ery.] 1t. Same as babery, 1.-2. A collection of baboons. - 3. Baboonish conduct or condition.