yapock
(ˈjæpɒk)
Also yapok, yapach.
[f. Oyapok, name of a river between French Guyana and Brazil, spelt earlier Wiapoco (Harcourt Voy. Guyana, 1613).]
The South American water-opossum, Chironectes variegatus, having webbed toes.
| 1827 Griffith tr. Cuvier's Anim. Kingd. III. 35 There are..Yapocks of a smaller size... Found on the banks of the Yapoch river of Guyana. 1840 Cuvier's Anim. Kingd. 103 The Yapach..frequents the rivers of Guiana. 1892 J. A. Thomson Outl. Zool. 569 The aquatic Yapock (Chironectes)..feeds on fish and smaller water animals. |