n. [ F. raton, prop., a little rat, fr. rat rat, perhaps of German origin. See Rat. ] (Zool.) 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
Raccoon dog (Zool.),
Raccoon fox (Zool.),