possum
n.n. a small, furry animal with a long tail that lives in trees. It looks a bit like a rat with a long face and lives in parts of North America.
n. a small, arboreal mammal of the family Didelphidae, native to the Americas. Characterised by a long, prehensile tail and a distinctive facial appearance.
The possum climbed up the tree to escape the dog.
While hiking through the forest, we saw a possum sitting on a branch watching us closely.
The possum is often mistaken for a rat, but its unique ability to play dead when threatened makes it a fascinating subject for wildlife researchers.
Etymology tree Proto-Algonquian *wa·p- Proto-Algonquian *aθemwa Proto-Algonquian *wa·p-aʔθemwa Powhatan aposoumbor. English opossumder. English possum Derived from opossum by apheresis.