opossum

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a mainly nocturnal American marsupial with a pointed snout and usually a long, nearly hairless prehensile tail

   An opossum climbed the fence after searching the garden for insects and fruit.

Simplified etymology

Opossum entered English in the early 17th century from Algonquian opassom, meaning “white dog.”

Borrowed in the seventeenth century from Powhatan aposoum, 'white animal,' from a Proto-Algonquian compound meaning approximately 'white dog.' The spelling was later reshaped under the influence of Latin-looking forms; possum arose by dropping the unstressed first syllable.

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External links

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