gerbil

/ˈdʒʌrbəl/

/ˈdʒʌbəl/

Other forms: gerbils

A gerbil is a small, mouse-like animal that's often kept as a pet. If you're thinking about adopting a gerbil, you might consider getting two — they're very sociable!

Gerbil comes from the Latin genus Gerbillus and its Arabic source, yarbu. There are many different kinds of gerbils, but the Mongolian species is most commonly sold in pet stores. Native to hot climates, these burrowing rodents require bedding to tunnel through and shred, as well as a warm, dry environment to thrive. In the wild, gerbils scamper through grasslands and deserts in Asia and Africa, tunneling underground to evade predators.

Definitions of gerbil

1. noun

   small Old World burrowing desert rodent with long soft pale fur and hind legs adapted for leaping
   synonyms: gerbille

   types:

   jird

   gerbil of northern Africa

   Meriones unguiculatus, tamarisk gerbil

   a gerbil that is popular as a pet

   Meriones longifrons, sand rat

   southern European gerbil

   type of:

   gnawer, rodent

   relatively small placental mammals having a single pair of constantly growing incisor teeth specialized for gnawing