coonskin

noun

coon·​skin ˈkün-ˌskin How to pronounce coonskin (audio)
1
: the skin or pelt of the raccoon
2
: an article (such as a cap or coat) made of coonskin

Examples of coonskin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The heads of Max, Melvin and Buff (deer, moose and buffalo, respectively) still hang on the wall and comment on the proceedings, while Sammy the Raccoon also is still around — but is no longer acting as a living coonskin cap. Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2024 With his yellowy eyes, sadistic laugh and coonskin hat, Farkus looked every bit the villain in this childhood classic. Mike Miller, Peoplemag, 17 Dec. 2023 The coonskin caps were a harbinger of things to come. Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 16 Dec. 2023 Today, the Alamo gift shop continues to sell the Crockett coonskin cap, albeit a synthetic one. Keep them out humanely. René A. Guzman, ExpressNews.com, 25 Aug. 2020 On a table outside the auction, there’s a black-and-white picture of Smith tucked up under the shoulder of John Wayne, who’s wearing a coonskin cap. Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 28 July 2021 Davy Crockett is famous for rocking a coonskin cap up to his dying day, which many historians believe was March 6, 1836 while defending the Alamo. René A. Guzman, ExpressNews.com, 25 Aug. 2020 The neuroscience major will officially don the mountaineer’s coonskin cap, buckskins and rifle at the Gold-Blue Spring Game on Saturday, April 18. USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2020 Several times a year, Errol Flannery dons his ‘coonskin cap and buckskins to portray his ancestor, the Alamo’s most famous defender, for students in fourth- and seventh-grade Texas history classes in his hometown of Granbury. Scott Huddleston, San Antonio Express-News, 9 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coonskin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coonskin was in 1818

Dictionary Entries Near coonskin

Cite this Entry

“Coonskin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coonskin. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

coonskin

noun
coon·​skin -ˌskin How to pronounce coonskin (audio)
: the fur or pelt of the raccoon

More from Merriam-Webster on coonskin

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