any omnivorous mammal of the genus Procyon, esp P. lotor (North American raccoon), inhabiting forests of North and Central America and the Caribbean: family Procyonidae, order Carnivora (carnivores). Raccoons have a pointed muzzle, long tail, and greyish-black fur with black bands around the tail and across the face
2.
the fur of the North American raccoon
[C17: from Algonquian ärähkun, from ärähkuněm he scratches with his hands]
racoonorracoon
—n
[C17: from Algonquian ärähkun, from ärähkuněm he scratches with his hands]