The Collaborative International Dictionary
Barbary ape
Barbary \Bar"ba*ry\, n. [Fr. Ar. Barbar the people of Barbary.] The countries on the north coast of Africa from Egypt to the Atlantic. Hence: A Barbary horse; a barb. [Obs.] Also, a kind of pigeon.
Barbary ape (Zo["o]l.), an ape ( Macacus innuus) of north Africa and Gibraltar Rock, being the only monkey inhabiting Europe. It is very commonly trained by showmen.
Usage examples of "barbary ape".
Never mind that he scrambles about your apartment like a Barbary ape.
You could have quintuplets by a Barbary ape and it wouldn't affect how I feel about you.
If you see him you will think of a tailless monkey, a Barbary ape.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Little John scamper up the shrouds like a Barbary ape, a knife in his teeth.