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raccoon

 - 4 dictionary results

rac⋅coon

[ra-koon]
–noun, plural -coons, (especially collectively) -coon.
1. a nocturnal carnivore, Procyon lotor, having a masklike black stripe across the eyes, a sharp snout, and a bushy, ringed tail, native to North and Central America and introduced elsewhere for its valuable fur.
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.

Origin:
1600–10, Americanism; < Virginia Algonquian (E sp.) aroughcun

Raccoon River

a river in NW Iowa, flowing SE to the Des Moines River. 200 mi. (322 km) long.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To raccoon
rac·coon also ra·coon   (rā-kōōn')   
n.   pl. rac·coons or raccoon also ra·coons or racoon
  1. A carnivorous North American mammal (Procyon lotor) having grayish-brown fur, black masklike facial markings, and a black-ringed bushy tail.

  2. The fur of this mammal.

  3. Any of various similar or related animals.


[Of Virginia Algonquian origin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

raccoon 
1608, arocoun, from Algonquian (Powhatan) arahkun, from arahkunem "he scratches with the hands." Early forms included Capt. John Smith's raugroughcum. In Norw., vaskebjørn, lit. "wash-bear."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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