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; 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

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.

How admirable is the volplaning of numerous parachutists—"flying fish," "flying frog," "flying dragon," "flying phalanger," "flying squirrel," and more besides, which take great leaps through the air.

From The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4) A Plain Story Simply Told by Thomson, J. Arthur

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