different between gopher vs spermophile

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????f?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??o?f?/
• Rhymes: -??f?(?)

Etymology 1

Perhaps from French gaufre, based on the analogy of holes in the ground to the indentations in a waffle. Doublet of waffle

Noun

gopher (plural gophers)

1. A small burrowing rodent, especially in the family Geomyidae.
2. The gopher tortoise.
3. The gopher rockfish.

Translations

Etymology 2

Noun

gopher (plural gophers)

1. Alternative spelling of gofer

See also

• gopher wood
• gauffre

English

Etymology

From spermo- +? -phile, hence, "seed-lover".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?sp??(?)m?fa?l/

Noun

spermophile (plural spermophiles)

1. A terrestrial burrowing rodent; ground squirrel.

Synonyms

• suslik, souslik
• ground squirrel
• gopher

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sp??.m?.fil/

Noun

spermophile m (plural spermophiles)

1. spermophile

Derived terms

• spermophile à mante dorée des Cascades

Further reading

• “spermophile” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).