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Webster 1913 Edition
Opossum
O-pos′sum
,Noun.
[Of N. American Indian origin.]
(Zool.)
Any American marsupial of the genera
Didelphys
and Chironectes
; called also possum
. The common species of the United States is Didelphys Virginiana
. ☞ Several related species are found in South America. The water opossum of Brazil (
Chironectes variegatus
), which has the hind feet, webbed, is provided with a marsupial pouch and with cheek pouches. It is called also yapock
. Opossum mouse
. (Zool.)
See
– Flying mouse
, under Flying
. Opossum shrimp
(Zool.)
, any schizopod crustacean of the genus
Mysis
and allied genera. See Schizopoda
.Webster 1828 Edition
Opossum
OPOS'SUM
,Noun.
Definition 2024
Opossum
opossum
opossum
See also: Opossum
English
Noun
opossum (plural opossums)
- Any American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. The common species of the United States is Didelphis virginiana.
Synonyms
- possum (US)
Derived terms
- water opossum (Chironectes minimus), yapock
- opossum mouse (Cercartetus nanus)
- opossum rat (Rattus marmosurus)
- opossum shrimp (order Mysida)
Translations
marsupial of the Didelphidae
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References
- opossum in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913