|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| 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"] |
|
|
|