silverback

English

Silverback Western lowland gorilla

Etymology

silver +‎ back

Noun

silverback (plural silverbacks)

1. (mammalogy) A mature male of the several species of chimpanzees and gorillas, so named from the silver streaking on its back.
2. (informal, by extension) A dominant older human male.
   • 2001, Peter Burke, New Perspectives on Historical Writing, page 145:

     Courageously (given Ranger's status in Mugabe's Zimbabwe, and his status as a silverback in North Atlantic Academe), Kriger dissents from their arguments.

   • 2003, Andrew W. Greeley, The Bishop goes to the University, page 121:

     "Have you met Professor Dolan, Bishop Blackie?" an Asian child with a beatifically innocent face asked me. "Is he that skinny silverback ape down on the first floor?"

Translations

mature male gorilla

• Dutch: zilverrug (nl) m
• French: dos argenté (fr) m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Spanish: espalda plateada m
• Swedish: silverrygg c

See also

• blackback