racoon

Noun

raccoon (plural raccoons)

1. An omnivorous, nocturnal mammal native to the Americas, of the genus Procyon, typically with a mixture of gray, brown, and black fur, a mask-like marking around the eyes and a striped tail.
2. The common raccoon (Procyon lotor).
   • Before a fire upon a seat like a bedsted, he sat covered with a great robe, made of Rarowcun skinnes, and all the tayles hanging by.1624, Iohn [i.e., John] Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   coon, common raccoon, North American raccoon, northern raccoon, trash panda

3. Any mammal of the subfamily Procyoninae, a procyonine.
4. Any mammal of the family Procyonidae, a procyonid.
5. (broadly, proscribed) Any mammal superficially resembling a raccoon, such as a raccoon dog.

See all 9 meanings of raccoon