gorilla
/ɡəˈɹɪl.ə/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.62 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An ape of the genus Gorilla; endemic to the forests of Central Africa and typified by superlative physical size and strength in relation to other primates.
Example Sentences
- "In three of these twenty gorillæ 14 ribs are present, and the additional rib in each of them is below. […] The conclusion that the usual place of commencement of the dorsal type in the gorilla is between the 12th and 13th dorsal vertebræ is founded on notes taken of this character in 13 of these gorillæ."
- "“They are wicked people—neither white like you nor black like me, but covered with hair as is Bolgani, the gorilla. Yes, they are very bad people indeed, and Chowambi was glad to get out of their country.”"
- ""I'll do the old gorilla the justice to say that he is open-handed with money.""
- ""Don't fool yourself," I said. "I could have slugged this pair of amateur gorillas any hour of the day or night. I've not done it because you've got nothing against them other than their being a pair of dim-witted nuisances.""
- "I remember being crushed by gorillas on the rugby field[.]"
- "The two industry gorillas — IBM and AT&T — will get together to decide who will provide different communications services, Biddle stated."
Etymology
From Ancient Greek Γόριλλαι (Górillai, “Gorillai (a tribe of hairy women)”), described by Hanno the Navigator, a Carthaginian navigator and possible visitor to the area that later became Sierra Leone; the Greek word is likely from Punic, and ultimately from an African language.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: Γόριλλαι, -
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɡəˈɹɪl.ə/
- British English: /ɡəˈɹɪl.ə/
Usage
- Informal
- Australian usage
- British usage
- Slang