hamster

 
Pronunciation: /ˈhamstə/

noun

  • a solitary burrowing rodent with a short tail and large cheek pouches for carrying food, native to Europe and North Asia.
    • Subfamily Cricetinae, family Muridae: several genera and species, in particular the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), often kept as a pet or laboratory animal, and the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus)

Origin:

early 17th century: from German, from Old High German hamustro 'corn weevil'

Spelling help

Remember that the beginning of hamster is spelled ham-.