cheek pouch

noun

1. a sac in the cheek of certain animals, as squirrels, in which food may be carried.

cheek pouch

noun

1. a membranous pouch inside the mouth of many rodents and some other mammals: used for holding food

Word History and Origins

Origin of cheek pouch¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

I promptly saved it in my cheek pouch until I could store it in my sleeping house.

From Literature

Its tiny name, however, is not derived from its tiny stature but because of the cheek pouches the animal uses to carry food and nesting materials.

From BBC

They fly up and over the Mediterranean from Libya and Algeria, their cheek pouches full of fish for young chicks which have hatched in crannies left by lava rocks near the seaside.

From Washington Times

This suggests that the reptiles can inadvertently rescue seeds that rodents collect and store in their cheek pouches.

From Nature

The gopher was fat and sleek and he had always plenty of food in his cheek pouches.

From Literature