Marama

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. A type of large, nocturnal marsupial from Australia characterized by its long limbs and soft fur
2. This marsupial species is known for its distinctively large size and arboreal lifestyle, primarily active at night
3. A native Australian animal recognized for its unique combination of physical features, such as large ears and a long, fluffy tail

Etymology: In te reo Māori, the language of New Zealand's Indigenous people, "marama" means moon, moonlight, or light, and it can also refer to a month in the lunar sense. The word's connection to the moon reflects a calendar in which the moon's phases marked time. Linguists reconstruct its ancestor as Proto-Oceanic "malama," a root shared across many Pacific languages. The Māori form shows a regular sound change: Proto-Polynesian "l" became "r" in Māori, so the same root appears as "malama" in some neighbouring languages and "marama" in New Zealand. The marsupial meaning in your entry does not match this word.

Synonyms: moon, lunar deity