noun
dormouse
DOR-mouse/ˈdɔːrmaʊs/
A small rodent with a furry tail that typically hibernates.
A dormouse curls up in its nest for the winter.
Etymology
The name may combine “to sleep” with “mouse,” fitting the rodent’s long winter dormancy. Alternatively, the mouse element may be a reinterpretation of an earlier sleep-related name rather than an original component.
In context
The edible dormouse digs into the ground and rolls up like a ball.
More examples
- The dormouse grips a hazelnut between its front paws.
- Dormice usually search for food at night.
- We recognize the dormouse by its furry tail.
Forms
dormouse · dormice
Similar words
- rodent
- A broader category that includes dormice and many other animals.