Bassariscus

noun

Bas·​sa·​ris·​cus

ˌba-sə-ˈri-skəs

: a genus (family Procyonidae) of mammals comprising the ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) and cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek bassaris fox + New Latin -iscus (diminutive suffix)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!