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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.

Any American marsupial of the genera Didelphys and Chironectes. The common species of the United States is Didelphys Virginiana.

See Yapock, and the Note under Opossum.

y, any marsupial; but the term is now restricted to an American genus which includes the opossums, of which there are many species. See Opossum. [Written also Didelphis.] See Illustration in Appendix. Cuvier.

y, any marsupial; but the term is now restricted to an American genus which includes the opossums, of which there are many species. See Opossum. [Written also Didelphis.] See Illustration in Appendix. Cuvier.

A group of marsupials which are partly insectivorous, as the opossum.

rgest trees of the Southern States, bearing a small blue fruit, the favorite food of the opossum. Most of the large trees become hollow.

A species of small opossum (Didelphus murina) ranging from Mexico to Brazil.

ncluding nearly all the mammals of Australia and the adjacent islands, together with the opossums of America. They differ from ordinary mammals in having the corpus callosum very small, in being implacental, and in having their young born while very immature. The female generally carries the young for some time after b…

A genus of small schizopod shrimps found both in fresh and salt water; the opossum shrimps. One species inhabits the Great Lakes of North America, and is largely eaten by the whitefish. The marine species form part of the food of right whales.

A division of marsupials, including the opossums.

A pedimanous marsupial; an opossum.

Having feet resembling hands, or with the first toe opposable, as the opossums and monkeys.

A South American opossum (Didelphys philander).

A small South American opossum (Didelphys quica), native of Guiana and Brazil. It feeds upon insects, small birds, and fruit.

A suborder of carnivorous and insectivorous marsupials including the dasyures and the opossums.

A small South American opossum (Didelphys opossum), having four white spots on the face.

ly, a little wrinkled man; a dwarf; -- in contempt. This weak and writhled shrimp. Shak. Opossum shrimp. (Zoöl.) See under Opossum. -- Spector shrimp, or Skeleton shrimp (Zoöl.), any slender amphipod crustacean of the genus Caprella and allied genera. See Illust. under Læmodopoda. -- Shrimp catcher (Zoöl.), the littl…

al (Phalangista, or Trichosurus, vulpina); -- called also vulpine phalanger, and vulpine opossum.

A South American aquatic opossum (Chironectes variegatus) found in Guiana and Brazil. Its hind feet are webbed, and its fore feet do not have an opposable thumb for climbing. Called also water opossum. [Written also yapack.]