What language did opossum originate from?

True opossums are found only in North America, although there is a "water possum", also known as the yapok, which is found in central and South America. Possums, sometimes erroneously confused with opossums, are found in New Guinea, Australia (including Tasmania), Sulawesi (Indonesia) and a few other small islands in the Pacific region. Although not native to New Zealand, the brush-tailed possum was introduced into that country over a century ago and has subsequently become a pest.