gopher

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: go=pher

CIDE DICTIONARY

gopher, n. [F. gaufre waffle, honeycomb. See Gauffer.].

•  One of several North American burrowing rodents of the genera Geomys and Thomomys, of the family Geomyidæ; -- called also pocket gopher and pouched rat. See Pocket gopher, and Tucan.  [1913 Webster]

  " The name was originally given by French settlers to many burrowing rodents, from their honeycombing the earth."  [1913 Webster]
•  One of several western American species of the genus Spermophilus, of the family Sciuridæ; as, the gray gopher (Spermophilus Franklini) and the striped gopher (S. tridecemlineatus); -- called also striped prairie squirrel, leopard marmot, and leopard spermophile. See Spermophile.  [1913 Webster]
•  A large land tortoise (Testudo Carilina) of the Southern United States, which makes extensive burrows.  [1913 Webster]
•  A large burrowing snake (Spilotes Couperi) of the Southern United States.  [1913 Webster]

Gopher drift (Mining), an irregular prospecting drift, following or seeking the ore without regard to regular grade or section. Raymond.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

gopher, n.
1 (in full pocket gopher) any burrowing rodent of the family Geomyidae, native to N. America, having external cheek pouches and sharp front teeth.
2 a N. American ground squirrel.
3 a tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, native to the southern US, that excavates tunnels as shelter from the sun.

Idiom

gopher snake a cribo.

gopher, n.
1 Bibl. a tree from the wood of which Noah's ark was made.
2 (in full gopher-wood) a tree, Cladrastis lutea, yielding yellowish timber.

Etymology

Heb. goper

ROGET THESAURUS

gopher

Auxiliary

N auxiliary, recruit, assistant, adjuvant, adjutant, ayudante, coaid, adjunct, help, helper, help mate, helping hand, midwife, colleague, partner, mate, confrere, cooperator, coadjutor, coadjutrix, collaborator, ally, friend, confidant, fidus Achates, pal, buddy, alter ego, confederate, accomplice, complice, accessory, accessory after the fact, particeps criminis, socius criminis, aide-de-camp, secretary, clerk, associate, marshal, right-hand, right-hand man, Friday, girl Friday, man Friday, gopher, gofer, candle- holder, bottle-holder, handmaid, servant, puppet, cat's-paw, jackal, tool, dupe, stooge, ame damnee, satellite, adherent, votary, sectarian, secretary, seconder, backer, upholder, abettor, advocate, partisan, champion, patron, friend at court, mediator, angel (theater, entertainment), friend in need, Jack at a pinch, deus ex machina, guardian angel, tutelary genius.