possum Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Pos"sum noun
Etymology
Shortened from opossum.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) An opossum. Colloq. U. S.

Webster 1913