Jerboa

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Jerboa \Jer*bo"a\, n. [Ar. yarb[=u]`.] (Zool.)
     Any small jumping rodent of the genus {Dipus}, esp. {Dipus
     Aegyptius}, which is common in Egypt and the adjacent
     countries. The jerboas have very long hind legs and a long
     tail. [Written also {gerboa}.]
     [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: The name is also applied to other small jumping
           rodents, as the {Pedetes Caffer}, of the Cape of Good
           Hope.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Jerboa kangaroo} (Zool.), small Australian kangaroo
        ({Bettongia penicillata}), about the size of a common
        hare.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  jerboa
       n : mouselike jumping rodent