chipmunk

[chip-muhngk]

noun

any of several small, striped, terrestrial squirrels of the genera Tamias, of North America, and Eutamia, of Asia and North America, especially T. striatus, of eastern North America.

Origin of chipmunk

1825–35, Americanism; assimilated variant of earlier chitmunk, apparently < Ojibwa ačitamo·nʔ red squirrel, equivalent to ačit- headfirst, face-down + derivational elements; so called from the squirrel's manner of descending trees

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chipmunk

From the religious (‘The Holly and the Ivy’) to the secular (‘The Chipmunk Song’), my top 20.
Yes, I Like Christmas Music. Stop Laughing.|Michael Tomasky|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The British rapper, better known as Chipmunk, posted a melancholy message a few weeks ago to his followers on Twitter.
Does Twitter Prevent Suicide?|Benjamin Popper|November 29, 2009|DAILY BEAST
I am sometimes awakened at early dawn by a chipmunk mob that is having a lively time upon the roof.
The Rocky Mountain Wonderland|Enos A. Mills
Uncas, the chipmunk, had also demanded and received admittance to the council.
The Seven Darlings|Gouverneur Morris

The chipmunk was sitting up on the flat stump, and, held in its paws, was the missing jam tart.
The Curlytops at Silver Lake|Howard Roger Garis
Peg would be about as patient as a chipmunk at giving instructions.
The Girl Scouts at Camp Comalong|Lillian Garis
Therefore the chipmunk has stripes on his back even today, because Grizzly scratched her in that way.
Myths and Legends of British North America|Katharine Berry Judson

British Dictionary definitions for chipmunk

chipmunk

noun

any burrowing sciurine rodent of the genera Tamias of E North America and Eutamias of W North America and Asia, typically having black-striped yellowish fur and cheek pouches for storing food

Word Origin for chipmunk

C19: of Algonquian origin; compare Ojibwa atchitamon squirrel, literally: headfirst, referring to its method of descent from trees

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for chipmunk

chipmunk

1829 (also chitmunk, 1832), from Algonquian, probably Ojibwa ajidamoo (in the Ottawa dialect ajidamoonh) "red squirrel," literally "head first," or "one who descends trees headlong" (containing ajid- "upside down"), probably influenced by English chip and mink. Other early names for it included ground squirrel and striped squirrel.

chipmunk

noun

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Origin of chipmunk

Examples from the Web for chipmunk

chipmunk

noun

Word Origin for chipmunk

chipmunk