spermophile

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A terrestrial burrowing rodent; ground squirrel.

Pronunciation

/ˈspɜː(ɹ)məfaɪl/

Word forms

spermophile spermophiles

Etymology

From Spermophilus from σπέρμα (spérma, “seed”) + φιλέω (philéō, “love”), hence, "seed-lover". This genus formerly included most of the terrestrial squirrels, but all of the North American species have been split off into separate genera.

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