opossum

English

/əˈpɒsəm/, /əˈpɑsəm/

noun

Definitions

Any American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. The common species of the United States is Didelphis virginiana.

Etymology

Derived from Powhatan aposoum (white animal) derived from Proto-Algonquian *wa·p-aʔθemwa (white dog).

Origin

Proto-Algonquian

*wa·p-aʔθemwa

Gloss

white dog

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms

possum English
opossum Latin
opossum Dutch, Flemish
オポッサム Japanese
チロエオポッサム Japanese
apasam Irish
โอพอสซัม Thai
奧珀瑟姆 Chinese
*wa·p-aʔθemwa Proto-Algonquian
aposoum Powhatan

possum