opossum, possum
(noun) nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail found from southern North America to northern South America
phalanger, opossum, possum
(noun) small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long usually prehensile tails
Source: WordNet® 3.1
possum (plural possums)
(US) An opossum, a marsupial of the family Didelphidae of the Americas.
Any of the marsupials in several families of the order Diprotodontia of Australia and neighboring islands.
Source: Wiktionary
Pos"sum, n. Etym: [Shortened from opossum.] (Zoöl.)
Definition: An opossum. [Colloq. U. S.] To play possum, To act possum, to feign ignorance, indifference or inattention, with the intent to deceive; to dissemble; -- in allusion to the habit of the opossum, which feigns death when attacked or alarmed.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
11 May 2025
(noun) a light drumstick with a rounded head that is used to strike such percussion instruments as chimes, kettledrums, marimbas, glockenspiels, etc.
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
