Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Gopher

Go′pher

,
Noun.
[F.
gaufre
waffle, honeycomb. See
Gauffer
.]
(Zool.)
1.
One of several North American burrowing rodents of the genera
Geomys
and
Thomomys
, of the family
Geomyidæ
; – called also
pocket gopher
and
pouched rat
. See
Pocket gopher
, and
Tucan
.
☞ The name was originally given by French settlers to many burrowing rodents, from their honeycombing the earth.
2.
One of several western American species of the genus
Spermophilus
, of the family
Sciuridæ
; as, the gray gopher (
Spermophilus Franklini
) and the striped gopher (
S. tridecemlineatus
); – called also
striped prairie squirrel
,
leopard marmot
, and
leopard spermophile
. See
Spermophile
.
3.
A large land tortoise (
Testudo Carilina
) of the Southern United States, which makes extensive burrows.
4.
A large burrowing snake (
Spilotes Couperi
) of the Southern United States.
Gopher drift
(Mining)
,
an irregular prospecting drift, following or seeking the ore without regard to regular grade or section.
Raymond.