opossum (redirected from opossums)

o·pos·sum  (-psm, psm)

n. pl. opossum or o·pos·sums

1. Any of various nocturnal, usually arboreal marsupials of the family Didelphidae, especially Didelphis marsupialis of the Western Hemisphere, having a thick coat of hair, a long snout, and a long prehensile tail. See Regional Note at possum.

2. Any of several similar marsupials of Australia belonging to the family Phalangeridae.

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[Virginia Algonquian.]

Word History: The word opossum takes us back to the earliest days of the American colonies. The settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, was founded in 1607 by the London Company, chartered for the planting of colonies. Even though the first years were difficult, promotional literature was glowing. In one such piece, A True Declaration of the Estate of the Colonie in Virginia, published in 1610, we find this passage: "There are ... Apossouns, in shape like to pigges." This is the first recorded use of opossum, although in a spelling that differs from the one later settled on to reproduce the sound of the Virginia Algonquian word from which our word came. The word opossum and its shortened form possum, first recorded in 1613 in more promotional literature, remind us of a time when the New World was still very new, settlers were few, and the inhabitants for whom the New World was not new were plentiful.

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opossum [əˈpɒsəm]

n pl -sums, -sum

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any thick-furred marsupial, esp Didelphis marsupialis (common opossum), of the family Didelphidae of S North, Central, and South America, having an elongated snout and a hairless prehensile tail Sometimes (informal) shortened to possum

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) Also called (Austral. and NZ) possum any of various similar animals, esp the phalanger, Trichosurus vulpecula, of the New Zealand bush

[from Algonquian aposoum; related to Delaware apässum, literally: white beast]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	opossum - small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long usually prehensile tails phalanger, possum marsupial, pouched mammal - mammals of which the females have a pouch (the marsupium) containing the teats where the young are fed and carried family Phalangeridae, Phalangeridae - phalangers; koalas cuscus - woolly-haired monkey-like arboreal marsupial of New Guinea and northern Australia brush-tailed phalanger, Trichosurus vulpecula - bushy-tailed phalanger flying opossum, flying phalanger, flying squirrel - nocturnal phalangers that move with gliding leaps using parachute-like folds of skin along the sides of the body kangaroo bear, koala, koala bear, native bear, Phascolarctos cinereus - sluggish tailless Australian arboreal marsupial with grey furry ears and coat; feeds on eucalyptus leaves and bark
	2.	opossum - nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail found from southern North America to northern South America possum marsupial, pouched mammal - mammals of which the females have a pouch (the marsupium) containing the teats where the young are fed and carried Didelphidae, family Didelphidae - opossums common opossum, Didelphis marsupialis, Didelphis virginiana - omnivorous opossum of the eastern United States; noted for feigning death when in danger; esteemed as food in some areas; considered same species as the crab-eating opossum of South America crab-eating opossum - South American opossum

Translations

opossum [əˈpɒsəm] N (opossums or opossum (pl)) → zarigüeya f

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opossum

n → Opossum nt

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opossum [əˈpɒsəm] n → opossum m inv

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opossum

n opossum [əˈposəm]

(alsopossum) a furry animal with a long tail and a pouch for carrying its young which lives in trees; it is found especially in Australia, New Zealand and America. buidelrot, opossum أبوسوم: حَيَوان أمْريكي يَتماوت عندما يُقْبَض عليْه опосум vačice pungrotte; opossum das Opossum οπόσουμ (μικρόσωμο μαρσιποφόρο ζώο) zarigüeya opossum صاریغ opossumi opossum אוֹפּוֹסוּם ओपोसम oposum oposszum sejenis hewan berkantung opossum オッポサム（有袋動物） 주머니쥐 oposumas, sterblinė žiurkė oposums oposum opossum, buidelrat pungape; pungrotte opos опоссум vačica oposum oposum opossum, pungråtta สัตว์คล้ายหนูมีกระเป๋าหน้าท้อง keseli sıçan 負鼠 опосум ايک قسم کا جانور thú có túi ôpốt 小有袋动物