from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
kangaroo \kan"ga*roo"\, n. [Said to be the native name.] (Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of jumping marsupials of the
family {Macropodid[ae]}. They inhabit Australia, New Guinea,
and adjacent islands, They have long and strong hind legs and
a large tail, while the fore legs are comparatively short and
feeble. The giant kangaroo ({Macropus major}) is the largest
species, sometimes becoming twelve or fourteen feet in total
length. The tree kangaroos, belonging to the genus
{Dendrolagus}, live in trees; the rock kangaroos, of the
genus {Petrogale}, inhabit rocky situations; and the brush
kangaroos, of the genus {Halmaturus}, inhabit wooded
districts. See {Wallaby}.
[1913 Webster]
{Kangaroo apple} (Bot.), the edible fruit of the Tasmanian
plant {Solanum aviculare}.
{Kangaroo grass} (Bot.), a perennial Australian forage grass
({Anthistiria australis}).
{Kangaroo hare} (Zool.), the jerboa kangaroo. See under
{Jerboa}.
{Kangaroo mouse}. (Zool.) See {Jumping mouse}, under
{Jumping}.
[1913 Webster]