DCHP-1 Online

ground squirrel † 

• any of several squirrel-like animals living largely on the ground, usually applied to the genus Spermophilus.

  See also: marmot (def. 1)  

  • c1902  (1912)  The gopher, or ground squirrel, is smaller than the wood squirrel, while the badger is larger than a Manx cat.
  • 1743  (1949)  Ground squrls' are as big as a small house catt, which harbour's in trees and Lives upon pine aple's [cones], another squr'l, the size & colour as in England, here is Numerious.
  • 1853  The chitmunck, or Siriatus, or ground squirrel, is much smaller and more mischievous than any of the former species.
  • 1963  We watched a huge grizzly root up the sod and tear a mound of solid rock to catch a ground squirrel or a whistler.