Word Study
gerbil
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun gerbil has 1 sense
- gerbil(n = noun.animal) gerbille - small Old World burrowing desert rodent with long soft pale fur and hind legs adapted for leaping; Array is a kind of gnawer, rodent
is a member of gerbillinae, subfamily gerbillinae
has particulars: jird, meriones unguiculatus, tamarisk gerbil, meriones longifrons, sand rat
CIDE DICTIONARY
gerbil, n. [F. gerbille. Cf. Jerboa.].
- One of several species of small, jumping, murine burrowing rodents, of the genus
Gerbillus and related genera of the subfamilyGerbillinae . They have long soft pale fur and hind legs adapted for leaping. In their leaping powers they resemble the jerboa. They inhabit Africa, India, and Southern Europe. [1913 Webster] - A rodent (
Meriones unguiculatus ) of the subfamilyGerbillinae that is commonly kept as a pet; it is also called thetamarisk gerbil ,sand rat andjird . Its natural habitats are the dry regions of Northern Africa and Asia. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
gerbil, n. (also jerbil) a mouselike desert rodent of the subfamily Gerbillinae, with long hind legs.
Etymology
F gerbille f. mod.L gerbillus dimin. of gerbo JERBOA
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