Word Study
petaurist
CIDE DICTIONARY
petaurist, n. [L. petaurista a ropedancer, Gr. , fr. to dance on a rope, fr. a pole, a stage for ropedancers: cf. F. pétauriste.].
Any flying marsupial of the genera Petaurus , Phalangista , Acrobata , and allied genera. See Flying mouse , under Flying, and Phalangister. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
petaurist, n. any flying squirrel of the genus Petaurista, native to E. Asia.
Etymology
Gk petauristes performer on a springboard (petauron)
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