from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
marmot \mar"mot\ (m[aum]r"m[o^]t; 277), n. [It. marmotta,
marmotto, prob. fr. L. mus montanus, or mus montis, lit.,
mountain mouse or rat. See {Mountain}, and {Mouse}.]
1. (Zool.) Any rodent of the genus {Marmota} (formerly
{Arctomys}) of the subfamily Sciurinae. The common
European marmot ({Marmota marmotta}) is about the size of
a rabbit, and inhabits the higher regions of the Alps and
Pyrenees. The {bobac} is another European species. The
common American species ({Marmota monax}) is the
{woodchuck} (also called {groundhog}), but the name marmot
is usually used only for the western variety.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. Any one of several species of ground squirrels or gophers
of the genus {Spermophilus}; also, the prairie dog.
[1913 Webster]
{Marmot squirrel} (Zool.), a ground squirrel or spermophile.
{Prairie marmot}. See {Prairie dog}.
[1913 Webster]