ground squirrel (groundskwurel)

1. A terrestrial squirrel-like rodent, as one of the genera Spermophilus and Tamias: especially applied in the United States to species of the latter genus, as Tamias striatus, the hackee or chipmunk. In the United States, where there are more kinds of ground-squirrel than in any other part of the world, those of the genus Spermophilus are mostly called gophers, by confusion with the entirely different animals of the genera Geomys and Thomomys. See chipmunk, gopher, and spermophile. 2. An African squirrel of the genus Xerus. Sclater .