The term 'BIG APE' is composed of 8 crossword solutions: GALOOT (6 letters), ORANG (5 letters), LOUT (4 letters), KONG (4 letters), LUG (3 letters), OAF (3 letters), PALOOKA (7 letters), and GORILLA (7 letters). GALOOT is an old-fashioned term for a clumsy or stupid PERSON, while ORANG is the Malay word for 'PERSON' and is also used to refer to the great apes. LOUT is another word for a rude or aggressive PERSON, while KONG is a reference to the fictional giant ape from the 1933 film King Kong. LUG is a slang term for a large, strong PERSON, and OAF is a synonym for a clumsy or stupid PERSON. PALOOKA is a slang term for a stupid or clumsy boxer, while GORILLA is a large ape native to Africa. Finally, WRAY is a reference to Fay Wray, the actress who starred in King Kong. Altogether, these crossword solutions form the term 'BIG APE', which is a colloquial phrase used to describe a large, strong, and sometimes clumsy or stupid PERSON.