cricetid

noun

cri·​ce·​tid krī-ˈsē-təd 

-ˈse-

: any of a family (Cricetidae) of small rodents including the hamsters, voles, lemmings, gerbils, and New World rats and mice that are often grouped with the murids

cricetid adjective

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from New Latin Cricetus, genus name, of Slavic origin; akin to Czech křeček hamster

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above