[ ə'pɒs(ə)m ]
■ noun
1》 an American marsupial which has a naked prehensile tail and hind feet with an opposable thumb. [Family Didelphidae: numerous species.]
2》 Austral./NZ a possum.
Origin
C17: from Virginia Algonquian opassom , from op 'white' + assom 'dog'.