Main Entry:

rac·coon

Variant(s):

also ra·coon \ra-ˈkün also rə-\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural raccoon or raccoons also racoon or racoons

Etymology:

Virginia Algonquian raugroughcun, arocoun

Date:

1608

1 a: a small nocturnal carnivore (Procyon lotor) of North America that is chiefly gray, has a black mask and bushy ringed tail, lives chiefly in trees, and has a varied diet including small animals, fruits, and nuts b: the pelt of this animal2: any of several animals resembling or related to the raccoon

[raccoon illustration]