jocko

An ape; same as jacko, 1.

Originally adopted by Buffon as the proper common name for the chimpanzee, it has become the favorite nickname for any of the smaller monkeys and the original use of the word has been forgotten. The name is a sophistication of a West African name. Buffon’s jocko standing for enjocko, and that for West African engeco, ncheko, nshiego, enche-eko, etc., a chimpanzee.