marsupium

[ mahr-soo-pee-uhm ]

noun

, plural mar·su·pi·a [mahr-, soo, -pee-, uh].

1. the pouch or fold of skin on the abdomen of a female marsupial.

marsupium

/ -ˈsuː-; mɑːˈsjuːpɪəm /

noun

1. an external pouch in most female marsupials within which the newly born offspring are suckled and complete their development

Word History and Origins

Origin of marsupium¹

1690–1700; < New Latin, variant of Latin marsuppium pouch, purse < Greek marsýppion, diminutive of mársippos a bag, pouch

Word History and Origins

Origin of marsupium¹

C17: New Latin, from Latin: purse, from Greek marsupion, diminutive of marsipos

Example Sentences

These bones however have no connection with the marsupium, being nearly equally developed in both male and female.

From Project Gutenberg

Name a diminutive of marsupium, a pouch, from the form of the perianth.

From Project Gutenberg

These are distinguished by the possession of a permanent nursery-pocket, the "marsupium."

From Project Gutenberg

That there is more than one pouch makes a comparison with the mammary pouch rather than with the marsupium probable.

From Project Gutenberg

Mammals belonging to quite different Orders show traces more or less marked of a marsupium.

From Project Gutenberg