marmot

American  

[mahr-muht] / ˈmɑr mət /

noun

1. any bushy-tailed, stocky rodent of the genus Marmota, as the woodchuck.

2. any of certain related animals, as the prairie dog

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marmot British  

/ ˈmɑːmət /

noun

1. any burrowing sciurine rodent of the genus Marmota, of Europe, Asia, and North America. They are heavily built, having short legs, a short furry tail, and coarse fur

2. another name for prairie dog

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Etymology

Origin of marmot

First recorded in 1600–10; from French marmotte, Old French, apparently noun derivative of marmotter “to mutter, murmur” (referring to the whistling noises made by such animals), equivalent to marm- imitative base denoting a variety of indistinct, continuous sounds + -ot(t)er suffix of expressive verbs (though verb is attested only in modern French ); cf. murmur

Compare meaning

How does marmot compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• marmot vs. woodchuck
• marmot vs. prairie dog

Explanation

A marmot is a furry animal that looks like a very large squirrel. The groundhog is the most solitary member of the marmot family. Marmots are the heaviest members of the squirrel family, weighing as much as 22 pounds. You can find these big rodents all over the Northern Hemisphere, from the French Alps to the steppes of Eurasia. Although groundhogs prefer to keep to themselves, many marmots are quite social. They all have long front teeth that keep growing, requiring them to gnaw constantly, and are herbivores. Marmot is derived from the Latin murem montis, "mountain mouse."

Example Sentences

The problem, according to the famed British epidemiologist Michael Marmot, is the way our health systems are forced to “treat people and send them back to the conditions that made them sick.”

From Slate • May 26, 2024

Nicholas became interested in joining her grandfather after seeing his unique Hike-a-Thon shirts — and the HaT mascot, Miles the Marmot.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 7, 2023

And at a hearing held last week, Sir Michael Marmot, a professor of epidemiology at University College London told the inquiry that the UK had entered the coronavirus pandemic with "depleted" public services.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2023

Retailers including Marmot and Mountain Hardwear have released successful lines of PFAS-free items.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2022

"Take that out to Cold-blood Slaughter at the Three-mile, and I'll give you a shilling when you come back," Marmot said; and the boy rode off.

From Colonial Born A tale of the Queensland bush by Spence, Percy F. S. (Percy Frederick Seaton)