simian

What it means

1. Of or pertaining to apes and monkeys.
2. Bearing resemblance to an ape or monkey; apelike or monkeylike.

   In “Benguelê” (which refers to slaves’ nostalgic longing for Africa) he makes extensive use of crouching, stooped bodies in a simian, loping walk, arms hanging loosely and head down to suggest tribal dances, rituals, animals, a precivilization.

   2008 March 27, Roslyn Sulcas, “Exotica of Brazil in Motion”, in New York Times

In a sentence

In “Benguelê” (which refers to slaves’ nostalgic longing for Africa) he makes extensive use of crouching, stooped bodies in a simian, loping walk, arms hanging loosely and head down to suggest tribal dances, rituals, animals, a precivilization.

2008 March 27, Roslyn Sulcas, “Exotica of Brazil in Motion”, in New York Times

Where it comes from

1. Ancient Greekσιμός“snub-nosed”
2. Latinsīmia“ape, monkey”
3. Englishsimian

From Latin sīmia (“ape, monkey”), from Ancient Greek σιμός (simós, “snub-nosed”).