cricetid

[ krahy-see-tid, -set-id, kri- ]

noun

, Zoology.

1. any of a diverse group of scampering, digging, or jumping rodents of the family Cricetidae, including the gerbils, hamsters, field mice, deer mice, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and several wood and field rats.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cricetid¹

1955–60; < New Latin Cricetidae, equivalent to Cricet ( us ) a genus, including the common hamster ( Medieval Latin: hamster, perhaps < Czech křeček ) + -idae -id ²