marmot

noun

Etymology: From Middle French marmotte, from Old French marmotte; further etymology uncertain, possibly from a Gallo-Romance base *marm- (“to mumble; to murmur”) (referring to the sound made by the marmot when eating; possibly related to Proto-Indo-European *mur- (whence murmur) and ultimately imitative; compare also French marmot and marmonner) + Middle French -otte (diminutive suffix). Akin to French marmotte, Italian marmotta, Engadin Romansh murmont, Old High German *murmento (dialectal German Murmentel, standard Murmeltier); see also Latin mūs montānus (literally “mountain rat”).

1. Any of several large ground-dwelling rodents of the genera Marmota and Cynomys in the squirrel family.