monkey puzzle

monkey puzzle

n

(Plants) a South American coniferous tree, Araucaria araucana, having branches shaped like a candelabrum and stiff sharp leaves: family Araucariaceae. Also called: Chile pine

[so called because monkeys allegedly have difficulty climbing them]

mon′key puz`zle

n.

a South American coniferous timber tree, Araucariaaraucana, of the family Araucariaceae, with candelabralike branches, stiff sharp leaves, and edible nuts.

[1865–70; perhaps from the intertwined arrangement of its limbs]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

monkey puzzle - large Chilean evergreen conifer having intertwined branches and bearing edible nuts Araucaria araucana, chile pine araucaria - any of several tall South American or Australian trees with large cones and edible seeds

Translations

monkey puzzle

n (tree) → araucaria