lemming

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