cuscus

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkʌskʌs/

noun

  • a tree-dwelling marsupial with a rounded head and prehensile tail, native to New Guinea and northern Australia.
    • Four genera in the family Phalangeridae: several species, including the spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus) and the grey cuscus (Phalanger orientalis). See also phalanger

Origin:

mid 17th century: via French and Dutch from a local name in the Molucca Islands