[kak-uh-mis-uh l, -mik-suh l] /ˈkæk əˌmɪs əl, -ˌmɪk səl/ (Show IPA). Also called bassarisk, ringtail, coon cat. a carnivorous animal, Bassariscus astutus, of Mexico and the southwestern U.S., related to the raccoon but smaller, with a sharper snout and longer tail.
a catlike omnivorous mammal, Bassariscus astutus, of S North America, related to but smaller than the raccoons: family Procyonidae, order Carnivora (carnivores). It has yellowish-grey fur and a long bushy tail banded in black and white
2.
a related smaller animal, Jentinkia (or Bassariscus) sumichrasti, of Central America
Word Origin
C19: from Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl tlacomiztli, from tlaco half + miztli cougar
