raccoon

American  

[ra-koon] / ræˈkun /

racoon

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.

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raccoon British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of raccoon

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

Compare meaning

How does raccoon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• raccoon dog vs. raccoon

Example Sentences

Transmission most often occurs when people or pets ingest food or water contaminated with raccoon feces.

From Los Angeles Times

She could dismiss my preparations if she wanted, but I likened our arrangement to the night I had to fight off a pushy raccoon back on the farm.

From Literature

But coyotes aren’t picky: They will eat what’s available including rabbits, raccoons, birds, insects, fruit, vegetables, the contents of your garbage or compost, outdoor pet food and small pets.

From Los Angeles Times

The last 12 months have delivered a huge number of viral moments - Taylor Swift getting engaged, a raccoon getting drunk, and the 6-7 trend driving teachers everywhere to early retirement.

From BBC

“Meanwhile, the MAC is out here playing real football in front of 14 people and a raccoon on a Tuesday night during a blizzard.”

From The Wall Street Journal