A POSSUM AND AN OPOSSUM are not two different animals.  The former is a colloquialism for the latter.  The word itself stems from the Powhatan language.  They are timid, non-aggressive marsupials that I often see in the early mornings when I’m out walking.  I also see what’s left of them in roadkill.  [Why did the chicken cross the road?  To show the possum that it’s possible.]  To ‘play possum’ is a term that comes from what the possum does when threatened.  It is said that the creature pretends to be dead.  But actually, what they do is more like fainting.  It is not a conscious act, so it is actually inaccurate to say a person pretending to be asleep or feigning ignorance is ‘playing possum.’  In the American south (where else!) there used to be a meal called possum and ‘taters (sweet potatoes).  Personally, I don’t even want to think about it.  The vegetable was probably collard greens, with corn bread on the side.  I’ll stick with grits, thank you.  Â
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