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Glite Dictionary
rockchuck

rockchuck

9.9
A large brown animal like a big squirrel that lives in rocky places
  • noun
  • /ˈrɑkˌtʃʌk/
  • US
translation icon : marmota
  • We spotted a rockchuck basking on the sunny hillside during our hike.

Examples

  • The rockchuck's whistle warned the colony of an approaching eagle.

  • Farmers sometimes consider the rockchuck a nuisance because it digs burrows in fields.

  • The rockchuck is often seen basking in the sun.

  • I spotted a rockchuck near the rocky outcrop.

  • While hiking in the mountains, we saw a rockchuck sunbathing on a large rock.

  • Farmers sometimes consider the rockchuck a pest due to its burrowing habits in cultivated fields.

  • The loud alarm call of the rockchuck alerted us to the presence of a nearby predator.

Synonyms

Marmota flaviventris
vsrockchuck
  • Specialized
9.9

A large yellow-bellied rodent that lives on rocks in western North America

is the everyday common name used instead of the formal species label
yellowbelly marmot
vsrockchuck
  • US
9.5

A large brownish animal like a ground squirrel that lives on rocky mountains in western North America

is described as present in rocky areas rather than emphasizing nativeness

Surface Forms

rockchuck singular
rockchucks plural

Etymology

The word rockchuck is made of the words rock and chuck, like woodchuck. The 'chuck' part comes from a Native American word once used in English for burrowing animals, so a rockchuck is 'the chuck that lives among rocks', which fits the marmot that lives on rocky hills.