lemming (redirected from Lemmings)

lem·ming  (lmng)

n.

Any of various small, thickset rodents, especially of the genus Lemmus, inhabiting northern regions and known for periodic mass migrations that sometimes end in drowning.

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[Norwegian, from Old Norse læmingi, læmingr.]

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lemming

Noun

1. a small rodent of northern and arctic regions, reputed to rush into the sea in large groups and drown

2. a member of any group following an unthinking course towards destruction [Norwegian]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

lemming - any of various short-tailed furry-footed rodents of circumpolar distribution gnawer, rodent - relatively small placental mammals having a single pair of constantly growing incisor teeth specialized for gnawing Cricetidae, family Cricetidae - mostly small New World rodents including New World mice and lemmings and voles and hamsters European lemming, Lemmus lemmus - notable for mass migrations even into the sea where many drown brown lemming, Lemmus trimucronatus - of northwestern Canada and Alaska gray lemming, grey lemming, red-backed lemming - Old World lemming pied lemming - North American lemming having a white winter coat and some claws much enlarged southern bog lemming, Synaptomys cooperi - of low bogs and meadows of northeastern and central United States and southern Canada northern bog lemming, Synaptomys borealis - of wet alpine and subalpine meadows of Canada and Alaska