groundhog

or ground hog

[ ground-hog, -hawg ]

noun

1. woodchuck.

groundhog

/ ˈɡraʊndˌhɒɡ /

noun

1. another name for woodchuck

Word History and Origins

Origin of groundhog¹

An Americanism dating back to 1650–60; ground ¹ + hog

Example Sentences

Former England wing Ugo Monye said the defeat against Australia is like "groundhog day" and that being "unlucky" is no longer an excuse.

From BBC

Yellow-bellied marmots are a large ground squirrel closely related to groundhogs.

From Salon

The groundhog family lives in a climate-controlled burrow at the local library.

From Seattle Times

February is well upon us, and it wouldn’t take a groundhog sighting on Hollywood Boulevard to know that the interminable rituals of Academy Awards season will grind on for another several weeks.

From Los Angeles Times

Since 1887, this highly unusual and quirky holiday tradition has been a staple in North American superstitions, predicting the seasons . . . even though the groundhog may be off sometimes.

From Salon