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opossum

o·pos·sum [ ə póssəm, póssəm ] (plural o·pos·sums or o·pos·sum)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. American marsupial: a small nocturnal tree-dwelling marsupial with dense fur, a long snout, and a hairless prehensile tail. Native to: United States, Central and South America.  Latin name Didelphis marsupialis.

2. Australian marsupial: any one of several similar marsupials that are mostly nocturnal plant-eating tree-dwellers. Native to: Australia, New Zealand.  Family Phalangeridae.

[Early 17th century. < Virginia Algonquian aposoum "white animal"]
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