chipmunk

American  

[chip-muhngk] / ˈtʃɪp mʌŋk /

noun

1. 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.

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chipmunk British  

/ ˈtʃɪpˌmʌŋk /

noun

1. 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

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Etymology

Origin of chipmunk

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

Example Sentences

Her kooky chipmunk moxie lets her get through any script relatively unscathed, including this one.

From Los Angeles Times

Suddenly a red squirrel—not much larger than the chipmunk—jumped down from the top of the brush pile, ran out on the log, and attacked the chipmunk.

From Literature

Green was one of the oldest professors on campus, with gray hair that bushed out above his ears like the cheeks of a chipmunk.

From Literature

Big fat bunnies, red squirrels, and chipmunks would come right up to her and eat from her hand.

From Literature

He would have to leave Moose with her and hope that Moose would not take off after a squirrel or a chipmunk.

From Literature