marmot

/ˈmɑː.mət/

MⱭː · mət (2 syllables)

English Noun

Definition

Any of several large ground-dwelling rodents of the genera Marmota and Cynomys in the squirrel family.

Etymology

From Middle French marmote, from Old French marmotaine, marmontaine, murmontain, from Old Franco-Provençal marmotan, from Vulgar Latin *mures montani, the plural form of Latin mus monti (“mountain rat”); akin to Engadin Romansch murmont, Old High German muremunto (dialectal German Murmentel, standard Murmeltier).