gerbil
/ˈdʒɜːbɪl/noun
1- a burrowing mouse-like rodent that is specially adapted to living in arid conditions, found in Africa and Asia沙鼠。
1.1
- Subfamily Gerbillinae, family Muridae: several genera, in particular Gerbillus; the Mongolian gerbil ( Meriones unguiculatus) is popular as a pet.沙鼠亚科, 鼠科： 数属, 尤指小沙鼠属; 长爪沙鼠（拉丁名Meriones unguiculatus）是常见宠物。
词源
mid 19th cent.: from French gerbille, from modern Latin gerbillus, diminutive of gerboa （see JERBOA）.