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

Female pill bugs carry their fertilized eggs in a marsupium — a brood pouch located on their underside.

From New York Times

Secondly, those in which the young are produced in a very imperfect condition, and are usually nourished for a time in a marsupium or pouch.

From Project Gutenberg

Australia and Tasmania are the residence of the curious family of animals with pouches, called Marsupialia, from marsupium, signifying a purse or bag.

From Project Gutenberg

It is therefore interesting to consider a product that is identical with that described in the pharmacopœias as produced by the P. marsupium, Roxb., though the latter does not grow in the Philippines.

From Project Gutenberg

Thanks, ever so much," the boy said; "but what puzzles me in this Bulletin is the mussel's marsupium, or pouch.

From Project Gutenberg