Definition of gorilla

The word "gorilla" originates from a Greek word "gorillai" which was first used by a Greek explorer and naturalist named Bernard Germain de Lacépède in the late 18th century. However, this term referred to a group of small, short-faced apes found in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas and not the large, lumbering beasts we think of as gorillas today. The modern usage of the word "gorilla" to describe the large, lumbering apes we see in Africa can be traced back to the mid-19th century when explorers and scientists encountered and described these massive primates in detail for the first time. The name was initially adopted by English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley, who coined the term "Gorilla gorilla" in 1866 to describe the western lowland gorilla, the first gorilla species to be scientifically described. The name "gorilla" itself comes from the Greek word "gorillai," which means "tribe of hairy women." This name was likely chosen because of the dark, coarse hair covering the bodies of adult male gorillas, which gives them a somewhat intimidating appearance, leading to the belief that they were female warriors living deep in the forests. Overall, the evolution of the word "gorilla" reflects the ongoing exploration and scientific understanding of the natural world, as well as the changing attitudes and beliefs surrounding the study of primates.