marsupium

noun

mar·​su·​pi·​um mär-ˈsü-pē-əm 

plural marsupia mär-ˈsü-pē-ə 

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

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

Medical Definition

marsupium

noun

mar·​su·​pi·​um mär-ˈsü-pē-əm 

plural marsupia -pē-ə 

: an abdominal pouch formed by a fold of the skin and enclosing the mammary glands of most marsupials