the scientific name given by Shawin 1793 to the Australian genus of Petaurists (q.v.), orso-called Flying-Squirrels (q.v.), or Flying-Phalangers (q.v.), or Flying-Opossums.The name was invented by zoologists out of Petaurist. InGreek, petauron was the perch or platform from which a «rope-dancer» stepped on to his rope. `L. & S.' say probablyfrom pedauros, Aeolic for meteowros, high in air.