Gerbilles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small rodent typically kept as a pet, belonging to the family Muridae; it is characterized by its long hind legs suited for jumping and a long tail; these creatures are social animals often found in burrows in the wild
2. A type of burrowing mammal that is commonly seen in households as an exotic pet, recognized for its active and playful behavior; they have strong claws for digging and a dietary preference for grains and seeds
3. A furry small mammal that thrives in group settings and is often chosen as a companion animal, noted for its curious nature and ability to adapt to various environments; their natural habitat consists of arid regions and grasslands

Etymology: "Gerbilles" is the plural of "gerbille", a word borrowed from French, where "gerbille" is the name for this small desert rodent. The French term is itself linked to "jerboa", the name of a related jumping rodent of North Africa and Asia, and the two words belong to the same family of animal names with a shared desert-dwelling background. The animal was named in the 19th century by scientists who grouped it with jerboas, and the French coinage passed into English as the name for the pet species that became popular later. The English form keeps the French spelling, and the plural simply adds an "s" to the French-derived singular.

Synonyms: gerbils, rodents, pets, mammals, burrowers