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hamster
(ham′stər)
noun
any of several burrowing rodents (family Cricetidae) of Europe and Asia, with large cheek pouches: one species (Mesocricetus auratus) is used in scientific experiments or is often kept as a pet
Origin: Ger < OHG hamustro, prob. < OSlav choměstorǔ < or akin to Iran hamaēstar, one who knocks down
See hamster in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A small Eurasian rodent of the subfamily Cricetinae, especially Mesocricetus auratus, having large cheek pouches and a short tail and often kept as a pet or used in laboratory research.
Origin:
Origin: German
Origin: , from Middle High German hamastra
Origin: , perhaps from Old High German hamustro
Origin: , of Slavic origin
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