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joey

/ˈʤoʊi/
IPA guide

Other forms: joeys

A baby kangaroo, koala, and opossum are all known as a joey. Nearly all marsupial mothers carry their joeys in a handy pouch on the front of their bodies.

The most well-known joeys are probably tiny kangaroos, but the term applies to all newborn marsupials. Tasmanian devils, wallabies, and wombats fall into this category, and they also tote their joeys around in pouches or pouch-like folds in their abdomens. Etymologists know this word joey first appeared in the early 19th century, but its origin remains a mystery.

Definitions of joey
  1. noun
    a baby kangaroo or other marsupial, such as a wallaby or possum; (informal, Australian) a baby animal or child
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