LEMMING

lemming

(noun) any of various short-tailed furry-footed rodents of circumpolar distribution

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

lemming (plural lemmings)

A small Arctic and Subarctic rodent from any of six genera of similar rodents.

(figuratively) Any member of a group given to conformity or groupthink, especially a group poised to follow a leader off a cliff.

Source: Wiktionary

Lem"ming, n. Etym: [Nor. lemming, lemende; cf. Sw. lemel, Lapp. lummik.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any one of several species of small arctic rodents of the genera Myodes and Cuniculus, resembling the meadow mice in form. They are found in both hemispheres.

Note: The common Northern European lemming (Myodes lemmus) is remarkable for making occasional devastating migrations in enormous numbers from the mountains into the lowlands.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition