prairie dog

noun

1. any of several burrowing rodents of the genus Cynomys, of North American prairies, having a barklike cry: some are endangered.

prairie dog

noun

1. any of several gregarious sciurine rodents of the genus Cynomys, such as C. ludovicianus, that live in large complex burrows in the prairies of North America Also calledprairie marmot

Word History and Origins

Origin of prairie dog¹

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75

Example Sentences

The ferrets live mainly off of the prairie dogs they catch.

From NewsForKids.net

My favorite: a young bear engaged in a whack-a-mole-like game with a flock of prairie dogs.

From Los Angeles Times

Their prey is prairie dogs, and the ferrets hunt the rodents in often vast burrow colonies on the plains.

From Seattle Times

But for researchers like Kainz and CU Boulder geologist Lon Abbott, the High Plains that extend over much of eastern Colorado -- the territory of tumbleweeds and prairie dogs -- may be even more interesting.

From Science Daily

And the badgers have the bark to match their bite, with razor-sharp teeth and strong jaws used to capture prey like prairie dogs and mice.

From National Geographic