possum
possum Lexical Profile
possum Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Australian Any of numerous arboreal marsupials native to Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands, typically possessing a prehensile tail and a dense, woolly coat.
"We watched a brushtail possum skillfully navigate the telephone wires before jumping into the eucalyptus tree."
American An opossum, specifically the Virginia opossum native to North America, noted for its hairless tail and tendency to feign death when threatened.
"Our dog barked wildly when it cornered a possum searching for scraps near the outdoor garbage cans."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North America, 'possum' is primarily used as an informal variant of 'opossum' (the Virginia opossum). However, in Australia and New Zealand, 'possum' is the formal scientific and common name for an entirely distinct group of native arboreal marsupials (suborder Phalangeriformes).
• Rhymes for possum
Word Origin & Etymology
Early 17th century: an aphetic (shortened) form of 'opossum', which originated from Powhatan 'apasum' (meaning 'white animal'). British explorers like Captain James Cook later applied the name to anatomically similar marsupials discovered in Australia.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.