n. Any of various very small New World monkeys of the genera Callithrix and Cebuella, having a long tail and long incisors that they use to penetrate bark to extract gum and sap. [Middle English marmusette, a kind of small monkey, from Old French marmouset, grotesque figurine, alteration (influenced by marmouser, to murmur) of marmotte, marmot; see MARMOT.] ![]() (click for a larger image) marmosetblack-pencilled marmoset Callithrix penicillata |
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