Lemming

2 definitions found

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

  Lemming \Lem"ming\ (l[e^]m"m[i^]ng), n. [Nor. lemming, lemende;
     cf. Sw. lemel, Lapp. lummik.] (Zool.)
     Any one of several species of small arctic rodents of the
     genera {Myodes} and {Cuniculus}, resembling the meadow mice
     in form. They are found in both hemispheres.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: The common Northern European lemming ({Myodes lemmus})
           is remarkable for making occasional devastating
           migrations in enormous numbers from the mountains into
           the lowlands.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  lemming
       n : any of various short-tailed furry-footed rodents of
           circumpolar distribution