gibbon (gib on)

[F. gibbon, in Buffon; origin not ascertained.] The common name of the long-armed apes of the genus Hylobates, subfamily Hylobatine, and family Simiide, apes have a remarkably slender with very long slim limbs, especially the fore limbs or arms, which al most touch the ground when the animal stands erect; the tail is rudimentary, and there are ischial callosities. In some respects the gibbons approach man very closely. Gibbon ( Hylobates lar). They inhabit the East Indian archipelago and the pen in- sular mainland, and are extremely agile, swinging them- selves in the trees like the spider-monkeys of the new world. There are several species, one of the best-known of which is Hylobates lar , inhabiting Tena erim and a wide extent of adjoining country, of a blackish color marked with white on the face and hands. The hoolock ( H. hoo- lock ) is another, found in A am and neighboring regions. The crowned gibbon is H. pileatus of Siam. Sumatra has a gibbon ( H. agilis ) noted for uttering musical sounds, and variously called wou - wou , oungha , ungaputi , unkaputi, etc. The most notable gibbon is the Sumatran siamang (H. siamang a or Siamang a syndactyl a ), which has two of its toes webbed. See these names, also ape , Hylobates . gib-boom, n. See jib - boom . gibbose (gib'ōs), a . [L. gibbosus : see gib- gibbet1 (jib'et), n. [ gibet , gebet , gebat , jebet, jebat , a gibbet, appar. gibet , later gibbet , F. gibet , ML. gibetum , gibetus , It. giub- bet to , m., giubbetta , usually in pl. giubbette , f., a gibbet. The It. forms suggest a connection with It. giubbetto , dim. of giubba , dial. gibba . an under-waistcoat, doublet, mane (see jupon ), as if through the notion of 'collar' or 'halter'; but the It. giubbetto , a gibbet, is prob. accom. to the other word so spelled, and the real source may be in OF. gibet , a large stick, appar. dim. of gib be , gibe , a sort of arm (weapon), an imple- ment for stirring the earth and rooting up bous .] Same as gibbous .