gerbil

American  

[jur-buhl] / ˈdʒɜr bəl /

noun

1. any of numerous small burrowing rodents of the genus Gerbillus and related genera, of Asia, Africa, and southern Russia, having long hind legs used for jumping.

2. Also called tamarisk gerbil.  a jird, Meriones unguiculatus, that is popular as a pet.

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gerbil British  

/ ˈdʒɜːbɪl /

noun

1. any burrowing rodent of the subfamily Gerbillinae, inhabiting hot dry regions of Asia and Africa and having soft pale fur: family Cricetidae

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Etymology

Origin of gerbil

1840–50; < French gerbille < New Latin gerbillus, diminutive of gerbo jerboa

Example Sentences

“Everyone wants to laugh in my face. They call me a deranged old gerbil who lives under the hill. I’m not even under a hill; I’m at the very base of it.”

From Literature

They had had babies, and then they had all gotten out of the cage, and there had been gerbils all over the house for a while.

From Literature

The dragon, perched atop one of the gerbil cages, was hissing, shrieking, and flapping its tiny wings as if it wanted to lift the whole thing into the air.

From Literature

Once a kindergarten gerbil got loose and climbed in Boomer Malone’s desk and died there.

From Literature

People who for years are literally incapable of reason, much less getting their own dinner or finding the six baby gerbils that “somehow” got loose in the bedroom.

From Los Angeles Times