hamster
/ˈhamstə
/noun
A solitary burrowing rodent with a short tail and large cheek pouches for carrying food, native to Europe and North Asia.
- Subfamily Cricetinae, family Muridae: several genera and species, in particular the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), often kept as a pet or laboratory animal, and the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus).
- Donkeys, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, parrots and newts are most likely to get a present.
- In case you ever have a problem identifying rodents again, hamsters are cute and stuff food into their cheeks.
Origin
Early 17th century: from German, from Old High German hamustro 'corn weevil'.
- keep (or leave) one's options open
- keep (or lose) one's cool
- keep (or lose) one's temper
- keep (or lose) track of
- keep (or make) a House
- keep (or sleep in) a whole skin
- keep (or stand) guard
- keep (or stay) out of someone's way
- keep out (or keep someone/thing out)
- keep pace with
- keep quiet (or keep someone quiet)
- keep rank
- keepsake
- keep someone back
- keep someone dangling
- keep someone down
- keep someone guessing
- keep someone in
- keep someone in countenance
- keep someone in his (or her) place
- keep someone off
- keep someone posted
- keep someone sweet
- keep someone/thing off
- keep someone/thing on