marsupium

noun

mar·​su·​pi·​um mär-ˈsü-pē-əm How to pronounce marsupium (audio)
plural marsupia mär-ˈsü-pē-ə How to pronounce marsupium (audio)
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 (such as a bryozoan or mollusk) for enclosing or carrying eggs or young

Examples of marsupium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Instead of having a mother's marsupium to keep her safe, staff at the Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs created a makeshift pouch out of cloth. Zulekha Nathoo, USA TODAY, 21 June 2022

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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin marsūpium, going back to Latin marsuppium, marsīpium "pouch, bag," borrowed from Greek marsíppion, marsýppion, from mársippos, mársipos, mársypos, mársyppos "bag, pouch" (probably of pre-Greek substratal origin) + -ion, diminutive suffix

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of marsupium was in 1698

Dictionary Entries Near marsupium

Cite this Entry

“Marsupium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marsupium. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

marsupium

noun
mar·​su·​pi·​um mär-ˈsü-pē-əm How to pronounce marsupium (audio)
plural marsupia -pē-ə How to pronounce marsupium (audio)
: an abdominal pouch formed by a fold of the skin and enclosing the mammary glands of most marsupials

More from Merriam-Webster on marsupium

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