| lemming | <zoology> Any one of several species of small arctic rodents of the genera Myodes and Cuniculus, resembling the meadow mice in form. They are found in both hemispheres. The common Northern European lemming (Myodes lemmus) is remarkable for making occasional devastating migrations in enormous numbers from the mountains into the lowlands. Origin: Nor. Lemming, lemende; cf. Sw. Lemel, Lapp. Lummik. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
|---|