opossum

Where does the word "opossum" come from? It comes from Powhatan aposoum, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Opossum’s story begins in Powhatan: aposoum meant “opossum.” Literally "white animal/dog". It reached English by 1600s as opossum. Powhatan 'white animal'; John Smith described it in 1608. Today, opossum means a small marsupial native to the Americas, known for "playing dead".

1. Stage 1 · Powhatan · pre-1600s aposoum "opossum", literally "white animal/dog".
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s opossum "the pouched marsupial", Powhatan 'white animal'; John Smith described it in 1608.