any of several large nocturnal phalangers of the genus Phalanger, of N Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands, having dense fur, prehensile tails, large eyes, and a yellow nose
Word origin
C17: New Latin, probably from a native name in New Guinea
cuscus in American English
(ˈkʌskəs)
noun
any of a genus (Phalanger, family Phalangeridae) of sluggish, tree-dwelling phalangers native to NE Australia and nearby islands, mostly vegetarian with foxlike ears and a prehensile tail