cricetid

[ krahy-see-tid, -set-id, kri- ]

noun

, Zoology.

1. any of a diverse group of scampering, digging, or jumping rodents of the family Cricetidae, including the gerbils, hamsters, field mice, deer mice, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and several wood and field rats.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cricetid¹

1955–60; < New Latin Cricetidae, equivalent to Cricet ( us ) a genus, including the common hamster ( Medieval Latin: hamster, perhaps < Czech křeček ) + -idae -id ²

Example Sentences

Fernando Gonzalez as Jason, the dopey, affectionate male hamster, and Lea McKenna-Garcia as Tyson, the smarter, dominant female, give inventive impressions of cricetid behavior and look suitably cute in their fleece-trimmed ensembles.

From New York Times