Kinkajou definition
An arboreal mammal (Potos flavus) of Central and South America, having brownish fur and a long, prehensile tail.
noun
A nocturnal, tree-dwelling carnivore (Potos flavus) of Central and South America of the same family (Procyonidae) as the raccoon, with soft, yellowish-brown fur, large eyes, and a long prehensile tail.
noun
Potos flavus, a carnivorous mammal of Central America and South America with a long, prehensile tail, related to the raccoon.
noun
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Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
kinkajou
Plural:
kinkajousOrigin of kinkajou
- French from earlier Canadian French quincajou wolverine (the kinkajou being confused with the wolverine in early European descriptions of the animals) probably blend of Ojibwa gwiingwa'aage Montagnais kuàkuàtsheu wolverine
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From French quincajou, from an Algonquian) word, probably originally meaning ‘wolverine’ (compare Algonquin Kwingwaage, Ojibwe gwiingwa'aage (“wolverine”)), which was later transferred to the South American animal. Related to carcajou.
From Wiktionary