Pronunciation: (kap'yoo-chin, -shin), [key]
1. a Central and South American monkey, Cebus capucinus, having a prehensile tail and hair on the head resembling a cowl.
2. any monkey of the genus Cebus.
3. a hooded cloak for women.
4. (cap.) Also called Friar Minor Capuchin. Rom. Cath. Ch.a friar belonging to the branch of the Franciscan order that observes vows of poverty and austerity. Cf. Friar Minor, Friar Minor Conventual. Also called ringtail monkey (for defs. 1, 2).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.