hamster

American  

[ham-ster] / ˈhæm stər /

noun

1. any of several short-tailed, stout-bodied, burrowing rodents, as Cricetus cricetus, of Europe and Asia, having large cheek pouches.

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hamster British  

/ ˈhæmstə /

noun

1. any Eurasian burrowing rodent of the tribe Cricetini, such as Mesocricetus auratus ( golden hamster ), having a stocky body, short tail, and cheek pouches: family Cricetidae. They are popular pets

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Usage

Where does the word hamster come from? The name for those adorable, fluffy, little chipmunk-cheeked rodents known as hamsters hails from German. Hamster was borrowed directly from the German Hamster in the early 1600s.We consider hamsters as the hipsters of the rodent world. Just because we can. For the sheer fun of wordplay. Alas, the -ster suffix in hipster is unrelated to the letters -ster in hamster.Now that you know how hamsters got their name, why not find out how some of our other most beloved pets got theirs in the slideshow: "Where Do The Words For Our Pets Come From?"

Etymology

Origin of hamster

1600–10; < German; compare Old High German hamastro, Old Saxon hamstra weevil

Example Sentences

Or when Andre volunteered to watch his class’s hamsters over Christmas break without asking Dad.

From Literature

A small picture of a furry hamster was etched beneath the title.

From Literature

Alice looked at him the way my mother looks at the bottom of the hamster cage.

From Literature

There are doctors, teachers, grocery clerks, construction workers, a trucker, moms, dads, grandparents, and dog, cat, fish, and hamster owners.

From Literature

If the desire to be released from this Hell reaches across the party line — if it’s affecting everyone, everywhere — is there any escape at all, any way off this hamster wheel?

From Salon