cacomistle

American  

[kak-uh-mis-uhl] / ˈkæk əˌmɪs əl /

noun

1. Also called bassarisk, ringtail, coon cat.  Also cacomixle 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.

2. civet cat.

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cacomistle British  

/ ˈkækəˌmɪksəl, ˈkækəˌmɪsəl /

noun

1. 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

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Etymology

Origin of cacomistle

1865–70, < Mexican Spanish cacomiztle, cacomixtle < Nahuatl tlahcomiztli, equivalent to tlahco- half, middle + miztli cougar