hamster

views updated Jun 11 2018

ham·ster / ˈhamstər/ • n. a solitary burrowing rodent (subfamily Cricetinae, family Muridae) with a short tail and large cheek pouches for carrying food, native to Europe and northern Asia. Its several species include the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), often kept as a pet or laboratory animal, and the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus).

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

hamster

views updated May 23 2018

hamster Small, mainly nocturnal, burrowing rodent native to Eurasia and Africa. It has internal cheek pouches for carrying food. The golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is a domestic pet and all are descended from one female captured in Syria in 1930. Length: up to 18cm (7in). Family Cricetidae; species Cricetus mesocricetus.

World Encyclopedia

hamster

views updated Jun 11 2018

hamster See CRICETIDAE.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY

hamster

views updated Jun 27 2018

hamster XVII. — G. :- OHG. hamustro = OS. hamustra, corn-weevil, rel. to OSl. khoměstorǔ.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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