marmot

[ mahr-muht ]

noun

any bushy-tailed, stocky rodent of the genus Marmota, as the woodchuck.
any of certain related animals, as the prairie dog

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marmot vs. woodchuck marmot vs. prairie dog

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Origin of marmot

First recorded in 1600–10; from 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 + -ot(t)er suffix of expressive verbs (though verb is attested only in modern French ); cf. murmur

Words Nearby marmot

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use marmot in a sentence

Watch for high-altitude wildlife, such as marmots, pika, and bighorn sheep, and enjoy a unique tundra ecosystem of hardy plants and colorful wildflowers.
10 Things to Do with Kids at Rocky Mountain National Park | cobrien | February 28, 2022 | Outside Online
Our hearts happy in the afternoon warmth, and our legs wobbly from nearly 4,000 feet of elevation gain, we dodged marmots and took about a thousand pictures.
Nature Is in Charge at Glacier National Park | Emily Pennington | December 18, 2020 | Outside Online
Then the children wanted to catch another marmot, so Antler went with them and showed them how the trap worked.
The Later Cave-Men | Katharine Elizabeth Dopp
The shrill whistle of the marmot would often alone break the silence of the scene.
Mount Everest the Reconnaissance, 1921 | Charles Kenneth Howard-Bury
The verbose marmot, wordless; the listless Slaughter, dominant.
Colonial Born | G. Firth Scott

"Post-office's shut," marmot replied curtly, as he stood up.
Colonial Born | G. Firth Scott
As he turned to the door, he faced the men standing round marmot.
Colonial Born | G. Firth Scott

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

Origin of 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

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