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noun go·ril·la \gə-ˈri-lə\

: a type of very large ape that has black fur and that comes from Africa

: a large, strong, and usually ugly or frightening man

Full Definition of GORILLA

1

:  a very large typically black-colored anthropoid ape (Gorilla gorilla) of equatorial Africa that has a stocky body with broad shoulders and long arms and is less erect and has smaller ears than the chimpanzee

2

a :  an ugly or brutal man

b :  thug, goon

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Examples of GORILLA

1. She hired some gorilla as her bodyguard.
2. <the loan shark sent a couple of gorillas to “convince” him to pay up>

Origin of GORILLA

New Latin, from Greek Gorillai, plural, a tribe of hairy women mentioned in an account of a voyage around Africa

First Known Use: 1847

Related to GORILLA

Synonyms

bully, gangbanger, gangsta, gangster, goon, hoodlum, hood, hooligan, mobster, mug, plug-ugly, punk, roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, thug, tough, toughie (also toughy), yob [British], yobbo [British]

Related Words

cutthroat, scoundrel, villain; assassin, bandit, bravo, brigand, criminal, crook, desperado, felon, gunman, highwayman, lawbreaker, mafioso, malefactor, offender, outlaw, perp, perpetrator, pirate; pickpocket, racketeer, robber, swindler, thief, vandal; juvenile delinquent, tearaway [British]

Rhymes with GORILLA

ancilla, Anguilla, Aquila, Attila, axilla, cabrilla, cedilla, chinchilla, Comilla, flotilla, guerrilla, hydrilla, manila, Manila, mantilla, maxilla, megillah, papilla, perilla, scintilla, vanilla