HAMSTER

hamster

(noun) short-tailed Old World burrowing rodent with large cheek pouches

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

hamster (plural hamsters)

Any of various Old-World rodent species belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae.

especially, the golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, and the dwarf hamsters of genus Phodopus, often kept as a pets and used in scientific research.

Other rodents of similar appearance, such as the maned hamster or crested hamster, Lophiomys imhausi, mouse-like hamsters of genus Calomyscus, and the white-tailed rat (Mystromys albicaudatus).

Synonyms

• (golden hamster): Syrian hamster

Verb

hamster (third-person singular simple present hamsters, present participle hamstering, simple past and past participle hamstered)

(ambitransitive) To secrete or store privately, as a hamster does with food in its cheek pouches.

Synonym: stash

Anagrams

• Amherst, harmest

Source: Wiktionary

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Ham"ster, n. Etym: [G. hamster.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: A small European rodent (Cricetus frumentarius). It is remarkable for having a pouch on each side of the jaw, under the skin, and for its migrations.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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