πίθηκος

A. ape, monkey, Archil. 89.3,91, S. Ichn. 122, Ar. Ach. 120, Arist. HA 502a17 : as fem., πίθηκος μήτηρ Babr. 56; πίθηκον ἐνδυομένην putting on an ape's form, Pl. R. 620c; cf. πιθήκη.

2. nickname for a trickster, jackanapes, Ar. Ach. 907, Av. 440, Ra. 708, etc. ; αὐτοτραγικὸς π., of Aeschines, D. 18.242.

3. prov., ἀντὶ λέοντος π. γίγνεσθαι Pl. R. 590b; ὑπὸ τῇ λεοντῇ πίθηκον περιστέλλειν Luc. Philops. 5; π. ἐν πορφύρᾳ 'borrowed plumes', Diogenian. 7.94; ἐν πιθήκοις ὄντα δεῖ εἶναι π. 'in Rome we do as the Romans do', Apollod.Com. 1.3 ; ὄνος ἐν πιθήκοις 'parmi les aveugles le borgne est roi', Men. 402.8.

4. dwarf, Suid.

II. a ζῷον σελαχῶδες, Ael. NA 12.27.