Definition of raccoon
raccoon
orraccoons
alsoracoon
orracoons
1a : 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 nutsb : the pelt of this animal
2 : any of several animals resembling or related to the raccoon
Read the Latest from M-W
Recent Examples of raccoon from the Web
-
There have been 112 animals diagnosed with rabies in Maryland so far this year, including raccoons, bats, foxes, and four other groundhogs.
-
The land to this day remains virtually inaccessible except for its inhabitants - raccoons, opossums, foxes and the like.
-
The raccoon and fox are unable to be returned to the wild, Jessica Reedy said.
-
This is a lot to ask of a show whose highlights include a contestant confiding in a raccoon.
-
In 2014, Marvel turned Guardians of the Galaxy, an obscure comic featuring aliens, a talking raccoon and a monosyllabic tree, into a massive hit.
-
More on Freep.com: Charlotte was 3 months old when a pet raccoon crawled into her crib and ate away her face from her nose back to her right ear.
-
Facebook Accidentally Leaked the Identity of Content Moderators to Terrorists by Arik Jenkins Crazy fight to the death with a cyber raccoon.
-
In the midst of appreciating the weather and scenery, [Rachel Borch] looked ahead and noticed a raccoon obstructing the narrow foot path, baring its tiny teeth.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'raccoon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of raccoon
Origin and Etymology of raccoon
Virginia Algonquian raugroughcun, arocoun
RACCOON Defined for English Language Learners
raccoon
playDefinition of raccoon for English Language Learners
-
: a small North American animal with grayish-brown fur that has black fur around its eyes and black rings around its tail
-
: the fur of a raccoon
RACCOON Defined for Kids
raccoon
Definition of raccoon for Students
: a small North American animal that is mostly gray with black around the eyes, has a bushy tail with black rings, is active mostly at night, and eats small animals, fruits, eggs, and insects
History for raccoon
Like hickory, moccasin, and tomahawk, the word raccoon comes from an American Indian language that was spoken around the Jamestown settlement in Virginia. The English colonist John Smith—famous for having his life spared by Pocahontas—first recorded the name for the unfamiliar animal as aroughcun, rarowcun, and raugroughcun.
Learn More about raccoon
-
See words that rhyme with raccoon Spanish Central: Translation of raccoon Nglish: Translation of raccoon for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about raccoon
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up raccoon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!