Also spelled Orang-Outan, ourang-outang, and ourangoutang
noun
Freq #30992
Meanings
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1
noun
a large, long-armed arboreal ape of the genus Pongo, native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra
The orangutan moved deliberately through the canopy while holding its infant close.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Borrowed through Dutch orang-oetan from Malay orang hutan, literally 'forest person,' from orang, 'person,' + hutan, 'forest.' Historical English forms altered the second element by analogy with orang, producing spellings such as orang-outang and ourang-outang.