opossum

/əˈpɒsəm/

opossum

English Noun

Definition

Any American marsupial of the family Didelphidae in the order Didelphimorphia.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Algonquian *wa·p- Proto-Algonquian *aθemwa Proto-Algonquian *wa·p-aʔθemwa Powhatan aposoumbor. English opossum From Powhatan aposoum (“white animal”), from Proto-Algonquian *wa·p-aʔθemwa (“white dog”); compare Ojibwe waabasim (“white dog”).