Monk \Monk\, n. [AS. munuc, munec, munc, L. monachus, Gr. ?, fr. ? alone. Cf. Monachism.]

1. A man who retires from the ordinary temporal concerns of the world, and devotes himself to religion; one of a religious community of men inhabiting a monastery, and bound by vows to a life of chastity, obedience, and poverty. ``A monk out of his cloister.'' --Chaucer.

Monks in some respects agree with regulars, as in the substantial vows of religion; but in other respects monks and regulars differ; for that regulars, vows excepted, are not tied up to so strict a rule of life as monks are. --Ayliffe.

2. (Print.) A blotch or spot of ink on a printed page, caused by the ink not being properly distributed. It is distinguished from a friar, or white spot caused by a deficiency of ink.

3. A piece of tinder made of agaric, used in firing the powder hose or train of a mine.

4. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) A South American monkey (Pithecia monachus); also applied to other species, as Cebus xanthocephalus.
   (b) The European bullfinch.

Monk bat (Zo["o]l.), a South American and West Indian bat (Molossus nasutus); -- so called because the males live in communities by themselves.

Monk bird(Zo["o]l.), the friar bird.

Monk seal (Zo["o]l.), a species of seal (Monachus albiventer) inhabiting the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the adjacent parts of the Atlantic.

Monk's rhubarb (Bot.), a kind of dock; -- also called patience (Rumex Patientia).

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)