Main Entry:

mar·su·pi·um

Pronunciation:

\mär-ˈsü-pē-əm\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural -pia \-pē-ə\

Etymology:

New Latin, from Latin, purse, pouch, from Greek marsypion

Date:

1698

1 : an abdominal pouch that is formed of a fold of the skin and encloses the mammary glands of most marsupials 2 : any of several structures in various invertebrates (as a bryozoan or mollusk) for enclosing or carrying eggs or young