pentail

noun

1

or less commonly pen-tailed tree shrew

ˈ⸗ˌ⸗-

: a tree shrew (genus Ptilocercus) of Malaysia and adjacent islands that is dark brown above and white below and has a naked tail bilaterally fringed with long stiff hairs on its distal third

2

or less commonly pen-tailed phalanger : a small New Guinea phalanger (genus Distoechurus) related to the mouse opossums but distinguished by a tail fringed with long hairs

3

[by alteration] : pintail sense 1

Word History

Etymology

pen entry 3 + tail

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