raccoon

ra·coon

[ra-koon]

noun

plural

raccoons ,

plural

raccoon .

1. a nocturnal omnivore, Procyon lotor, the largest member of the family Procyonidae, having a masklike black stripe across the eyes, a sharp snout, a bushy, ringed tail, and very dexterous front paws, native to North and Central America and introduced elsewhere for its valuable fur: more than 20 subspecies have been named.

2. the thick, brownish-gray fur of this animal, with gray, black-tipped guard hairs.

3. any of various related animals of the genus Procyon, of Central American islands, some now rare.

raccoon

/ rəˈkuːn /

noun

1. any omnivorous mammal of the genus Procyon , esp P. lotor ( North American raccoon ), inhabiting forests of North and Central America and the Caribbean: family Procyonidae , order Carnivora (carnivores). Raccoons have a pointed muzzle, long tail, and greyish-black fur with black bands around the tail and across the face

2. the fur of the North American raccoon

Word History and Origins

Origin of raccoon¹

An Americanism dating back to 1600–10; from Virginia Algonquian (English spelling) aroughcun, from arahkunem “he scratches with his hands”

Word History and Origins

Origin of raccoon¹

C17: from Algonquian ärähkun , from ärähkuněm he scratches with his hands

Example Sentences

In California, skunks, raccoon and bats are more likely to carry the disease, which attacks the brain and spinal cord.

From Los Angeles Times

I live in the foothills where bear, bobcat and mountain lion sightings break up the tedium of coyote and raccoon encounters.

From Los Angeles Times

It's hard to say the same for the petition to rename raccoons Trash Pandas.

From BBC

I was a culinary raccoon: nosy, impulsive, endlessly compelled to paw at things that might have been better left alone.

From Salon

In one study, raccoons and squirrels would sacrifice food to avoid tick-infested areas, suggesting that they valued the threat of parasites more than the promise of food.

From Salon