Jerboa
/dʒɜː(ɹ)ˈbəʊ.ə/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of a number of species comprising the family Dipodidae, native to the deserts of Asia and northern Africa, being a small, jumping rodent with a long tufted tail, very small forefeet and very long hind legs.
"The Arabs, who are forbidden all other kinds of mice, esteem these the greatest delicacies: as those people often are disappointed in digging after them, they have this proverb, "To buy a hole instead of a jerboa.""
- 2 mouselike jumping rodent wordnet
Example
More examples"The Great Jerboa is a species of rodent."
Etymology
From Arabic جَرْبُوع (jarbūʕ) or يَرْبُوع (yarbūʕ). Doublet of gerbil.