Hamster
[ham-ster] /ˈhæm stər/
noun
1.
any of several short-tailed, stout-bodied, burrowing rodents, as Cricetus cricetus, of Europe and Asia, having large cheek pouches.
/ˈhæmstə/
noun
1.
any Eurasian burrowing rodent of the tribe Cricetini, such as Mesocricetus auratus (golden hamster), having a stocky body, short tail, and cheek pouches: family Cricetidae. They are popular pets
n.
c.1600, from German Hamster, from Middle High German hamastra “hamster,” probably from Old Church Slavonic chomestoru “hamster” (the animal is native to southeastern Europe), perhaps a blend of Russian chomiak and Lithuanian staras, both meaning “hamster.” The older English name for it was German rat.
1. (From Fairchild) A particularly slick little piece of code that does one thing well; a small, self-contained hack. The image is of a hamster happily spinning its exercise wheel.
2. A tailless mouse; that is, one with an infrared link to a receiver on the machine, as opposed to the conventional cable.
3. (UK) Any item of hardware made by Amstrad, a company famous for its cheap plastic PC-almost-compatibles.
[Jargon File]
(1995-02-16)
Read Also:
- Hamsters
[ham-ster] /ˈhæm stər/ noun 1. any of several short-tailed, stout-bodied, burrowing rodents, as Cricetus cricetus, of Europe and Asia, having large cheek pouches. /ˈhæmstə/ noun 1. any Eurasian burrowing rodent of the tribe Cricetini, such as Mesocricetus auratus (golden hamster), having a stocky body, short tail, and cheek pouches: family Cricetidae. They are popular pets […]
- Hamster-wheel
adjective doing or saying the same thing over and over; repetitious Examples She is plagued with hamster-wheel brain. Usage Note informal
- Hamster-wheel brain
noun An instance or condition where one’s mind goes over and over an issue or problem without reaching a solution: I’m mostly worrying about work, with my hamster-wheel brain running
- Hamstring
[ham-string] /ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ/ noun 1. (in humans and other primates) any of the tendons that bound the of the knee. 2. (in quadrupeds) the great tendon at the back of the hock. verb (used with object), hamstrung, hamstringing. 3. to disable by cutting the hamstring or hamstrings; cripple. 4. to render powerless or useless; thwart: Their […]
- Hamstringed
[ham-string] /ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ/ noun 1. (in humans and other primates) any of the tendons that bound the of the knee. 2. (in quadrupeds) the great tendon at the back of the hock. verb (used with object), hamstrung, hamstringing. 3. to disable by cutting the hamstring or hamstrings; cripple. 4. to render powerless or useless; thwart: Their […]