- This word comes from a compounding of the words “monkey,” meaning “The primate; an animal regarded as similar to this. 1.a. Any of numerous small- to medium-sized primates belonging to the one of the three families Callitrichidae, Cebidae, and Cercopithecidae, most kinds of which have long tails and live in trees in tropical countries. Also more generally: any higher primate, including the apes as well as the true monkeys” (“monkey”), and “face,” meaning “[t]he front part of the head, from the forehead to the chin, and containing the eyes, nose, and mouth; the countenance, visage” (“face”). Coming from a preoccupation with primates within the family, stemming from as early as 1950. The originator’s nanny, called Minnie, referred to monkeys as “the cutest little ugly things” with the intent that monkeys are capable of being ugly and cute at the same time. Finding this phrase funny, references over the past seventy years to this story have expanded to calling the word’s inventor’s children by a similar name as a term of endearment. This does not mean that he thinks his children are ugly, but instead associates the playfulness of monkeys with his children.
Monkeyface
noun Compounding
A term of endearment for a child from his or her parent denoting a cute, mischievous nature.
Etymology : This word was formed by compounding the words “monkey” and “face” on 27 September 2019.
Source : “You’re acting goofy today, Monkeyface” (phone conversation with my father, 27 September 2019.)
Last modified: 6 December 2019