gerbil

noun

ger·​bil ˈjər-bəl How to pronounce gerbil (audio)
variants or less commonly gerbille
: any of numerous Old World burrowing desert rodents (Gerbillus and related genera) with long hind legs adapted for leaping

Examples of gerbil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
And so the story goes, filled with all manner of quirky and hysterical, including a bus that's powered by gerbils, a dean of students who's a hermit crab, and a bold mission to save the town of Antiquarium from an evil cabal of nefarious mad scientists. Mia Taylor, Parents, 4 Oct. 2024 According to police, the door to the pet store was open and animals, including dogs, birds, ferrets, rabbits, and gerbils, were roaming free, WCMH reported. Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2024 Besides dogs and cats, animals allowed inside are birds, ferrets, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats and rabbits under 10 pounds. Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 31 May 2024 At 231 Mysterium Way, the pizza is fatal, the bus is powered by gerbils and the dean of students is a hermit crab. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gerbil 

Word History

Etymology

French gerbille, from New Latin Gerbillus, diminutive of gerboa, jerboa jerboa

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gerbil was in 1827

Dictionary Entries Near gerbil

Cite this Entry

“Gerbil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerbil. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

gerbil

noun
ger·​bil ˈjər-bəl How to pronounce gerbil (audio)
: any of several Old World desert rodents with long hind legs

Medical Definition

gerbil

noun
ger·​bil
variants also gerbille
: any of numerous Old World burrowing desert rodents (Gerbillus and related genera) with long hind legs adapted for leaping

More from Merriam-Webster on gerbil

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