Possum

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Opossum \O*pos"sum\, n. [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}.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     Note: 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}.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Opossum mouse}. (Zool.) See {Flying mouse}, under {Flying}.
        
  
     {Opossum shrimp} (Zool.), any schizopod crustacean of the
        genus {Mysis} and allied genera. See {Schizopoda}.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Possum \Pos"sum\, n. [Shortened from opossum.] (Zool.)
     An opossum. [Colloq. U. S.]
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {To play possum}, {To act possum}, to feign ignorance,
        indifference or inattention, with the intent to deceive;
        to dissemble; -- in allusion to the habit of the opossum,
        which feigns death when attacked or alarmed.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  possum
       n 1: nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail
            found from southern North America to northern South
            America [syn: {opossum}]
       2: small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long
          usually prehensile tails [syn: {phalanger}, {opossum}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  29 Moby Thesaurus words for "possum":
     Cape polecat, ape, bar, bear, cavy, chimp, chimpanzee, coon,
     ferret, foumart, glutton, groundhog, guinea pig, hedgehog, monk,
     monkey, mousehound, opossum, polecat, porcupine, prairie dog,
     quill pig, raccoon, skunk, weasel, whistle-pig, wolverine,
     woodchuck, zoril