opossum Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long usually prehensile tails
    phalanger; possum.
  2. noun nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail found from southern North America to northern South America
    possum.

WordNet

O*pos"sum noun
Etymology
Of N. American Indian origin.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) Any American marsupial of the genera Didelphys and Chironectes. The common species of the United States is Didelphys Virginiana. called also possum ✍ 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.

Webster 1913