Word Study
raccoon
CIDE DICTIONARY
raccoon, n. [F. raton, prop., a little rat, fr. rat rat, perhaps of German origin. See Rat.].
A North American nocturnal carnivore (Procyon lotor ) allied to the bears, but much smaller, and having a long, full tail, banded with black and gray. Its body is gray, varied with black and white. Called also coon , and mapach . [1913 Webster]
THESAURUS
raccoon
Cape polecat, ape, bar, bear, cavy, chimp, chimpanzee, coon, ferret, foumart, glutton, groundhog, guinea pig, hedgehog, monk, monkey, mousehound, opossum, polecat, porcupine, possum, prairie dog, quill pig, skunk, weasel, whistle-pig, wolverine, woodchuck, zorilFor further exploring for "raccoon" in Webster Dictionary Online