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Definition of kinkajou

kinkajou

/ˈkɪŋ.kə.dʒuː/
kin · ka · jou
Plural:kinkajous
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kinkajou Lexical Profile

kinkajou Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A nocturnal, tree-dwelling mammal native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, characterized by a woolly yellowish-brown coat, large eyes, and a long prehensile tail.

Example

"During our night hike in the Costa Rican rainforest, we used our flashlights to spot a kinkajou climbing deftly through the canopy."

Photo by lwolfartist / CC BY 2.0

• Nearby Words

kingsnake
kingston
kink
kinkajou
kinkily
kinkiness
kinky

Word Origin & Etymology

From French 'quincajou' (wolverine), originating from an Algonquian language such as Ojibwe 'gwingwaage'. The name was mistakenly transferred to the South American procyonid by 18th-century French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kinkajou. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 2, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kinkajou
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