POSSUM


Meaning of POSSUM in English

■ noun

1》 a tree-dwelling Australasian marsupial, typically with a prehensile tail. [Many species, especially in the family Petauridae.]

2》 N. Amer. informal an o~.

Phrases

play ~

1》 feign unconsciousness or death (as an o~ does when threatened).

2》 feign ignorance.

Origin

C17: shortening of o~ .

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.