Marmotte
/mɑːrˈmɒt/noun
A marmot, especially the Alpine marmot, or a burrowing rodent of the squirrel family.
Did you know?Unlike many animal names with noble classical pedigrees, marmotte appears to belong to a family of expressive, reduplicated names that imitate sounds or movements rather than describing the animal directly.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Latin
Latin
marmota
“A marmot; a recorded medieval animal name of uncertain, probably expressive origin.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
marmot
“Marmot; an early Romance form of the animal’s name.”
16th Century
French
marmotte
“Marmot, especially the Alpine species; the feminine-looking form became standard in French.”
16th–17th Century
English
marmot
“A burrowing rodent of mountainous regions, borrowed from French.”
Modern English
English
marmotte
“A rare or specialized variant referring to a marmot, particularly in Alpine or French contexts.”