Define the word possum"possum" gcide "The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
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]
"Possum" gcide "The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48"
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]
"possum" wn "WordNet (r) 2.0"
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]
"possum" moby-thes "Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0"
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
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