Hamster
/ˈhæm.stər/noun
A small rodent kept as a pet and known for storing food in cheek pouches.
Did you know?The word was borrowed into English from German Hamster, which itself came through Slavic languages; its deeper origin remains uncertain, not magical or occult.
Etymological Timeline
Possibly Proto-Slavic
Proto-Slavic
*xoměstorъ
“A reconstructed term associated with the hamster; its ultimate origin is uncertain.”
16th Century
Russian
хомяк (khomyak)
“Hamster.”
16th Century
German
Hamster
“Hamster, borrowed from a Slavic source.”
17th Century
English
hamster
“A small rodent, especially the European hamster.”
Modern English
English
hamster
“A small burrowing rodent commonly kept as a pet.”