Pe-taur'ist, n.

(Synop., § 130), n. [Fr. pétauriste, fr. Lat. petaurista, Gr. πεταυριστής, a rope-dancer, fr. πεταυρίζειν, to dance on a rope, fr. πέταυρον, a pole, a stage for rope-dancers.] (Zoöl.) One of a genus of marsupial animals, which take short flights in the air by extending the folds between the fore and hind extremities, and by an expanded tail, as the flying squirrel.