dasyure Zool.
(ˈdæsɪ(j)ʊə(r))
[ad. mod.L. dasyūrus, f. Gr. δασύ-ς rough, hairy + οὐρά tail.]
An animal of the genus Dasyurus or subfamily Dasyurinæ, comprising the small carnivorous marsupials of Australia and Tasmania, also called ‘brush-tailed opossums’ or ‘native cats’.
| 1839–47 Todd Cycl. Anat. III. 261/2 The Opossums resemble in their dentition the Bandicoots more than the Dasyures. 1881 Times 28 Jan. 3/4 The smaller pouched herbivores have their slayers in the ‘native devil’ (sarcophilus), and in the dasyures or native cats. |
Hence dasyˈurine a. Zool., belonging to the subfamily Dasyurinæ.
| 1839–47 Todd Cycl. Anat. III. 260/1 In..its hinder feet Myrmecobius resembles the Dasyurine family. |