English Explanatory Dictionary

possum

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A marsupial of several families of the order Diprotodontia, found in Australia and neighboring islands.
  2. An opossum, a marsupial of the family Didelphidae of the Americas.
verb
  1. To play possum; to feign sleep, illness, or death.

Pronunciation

pŏs'əm /ˈpɒsəm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-possum.wav

Word forms

possum possums possuming possumed

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Algonquian *wa·p- Proto-Algonquian *aθemwa Proto-Algonquian *wa·p-aʔθemwa Powhatan aposoumbor. English opossumder. English possum Derived from opossum by apheresis.

Related words

opossum

Derived words

act possum brush-tailed possum brushtail possum common possum common ringtail possum fairy possum feather-tailed possum Fergusson Island striped possum happy as a possum up a gum tree honey possum Leadbeater's possum northern brushtail possum play possum possum apple possum belly Possum Brush Possum Creek possumhaw possumlike possum pie possumwood pygmy possum ringtailed possum ringtail possum scaly-tailed possum shrew possum striped possum Virginia possum
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