phalanger

American  

[fuh-lan-jer] / fəˈlæn dʒər /

noun

1. any of numerous arboreal marsupials of the family Phalangeridae, of Australia, having foxlike ears and a long, bushy tail.

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phalanger British  

/ fəˈlændʒə /

noun

1. Also called (Austral. and NZ): possum.  any of various Australasian arboreal marsupials, such as Trichosurus vulpecula ( brush-tailed phalanger ), having dense fur and a long tail: family Phalangeridae See also flying phalanger

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Etymology

Origin of phalanger

First recorded in 1765–75; from French (Buffon) or from New Latin (1780), from Greek phalang-, stem of phálanx + New Latin -er, of unclear origin; the name refers to the syndactylous 2nd and 3rd digits of the hind feet; see phalanx

Example Sentences

And, Loeb, see if he can pick up a bandicoot or a phalanger.

From Time Magazine Archive

Analogous cases occur in nature: Mr. Bartlett has seen many black varieties of the jaguar, leopard, vulpine phalanger, and wombat; and he is certain that all, or nearly all these animals, were males.

From The Descent of Man by Darwin, Charles

The vulpine phalanger does duty for a fox; the fat and sleepy little dormouse phalanger takes the place of a European dormouse.

From Falling in Love With Other Essays on More Exact Branches of Science by Allen, Grant

At Rawak the phalanger and the sheepdog in a wild state were the only quadrupeds met with.

From Celebrated Travels and Travellers Part III. The Great Explorers of the Nineteenth Century by D'Anvers, N.

Analogous cases occur under nature; Mr. Bartlett has seen many black varieties of the jaguar, leopard, vulpine phalanger and wombat; and he is certain that all, or nearly all, were males.

From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex Volume II (1st Edition) by Darwin, Charles