marmot

[ mahr-muh t ]

/ ˈmɑr mət /

noun

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

any of certain related animals, as the prairie dogs.

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Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

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Origin of marmot

1600–10; < 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 (cf. murmur) + -ot(t)er suffix of expressive verbs (though v. is attested only in modern F)

Words nearby marmot

marmite, marmolada, marmorated, marmoreal, marmoset, marmot, marne, maroc, marocain, maroni, maronite

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for marmot

Writers upon rural England and her familiar natural history make no mention of the marmot or woodchuck.
Birds and Bees, Sharp Eyes and, Other Papers|John Burroughs
The marmot or woodchuck, is an impudent and cautious animal and he is a difficult mark for a bowman's aim.
Hunting with the Bow and Arrow|Saxton Pope
Before bedtime came, Carl asked his uncle to tell about marmot hunting.
Our Little Swiss Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
All through the long winter of six or eight months the marmot lies in his burrow and does not move.
Our Little Swiss Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade

I saw a very exciting picture as I passed through a marmot colony near the Orkhon River.
Beasts, Men and Gods|Ferdinand Ossendowski

British Dictionary definitions for marmot

marmot

/ (ˈmɑːmət) /

noun

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

prairie marmot another name for prairie dog

Word Origin for marmot

C17: from French marmotte, perhaps ultimately from Latin mūr- (stem of mūs) mouse + montis of the mountain

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