Woodchuck

Pronunciation

Origin

From Cree ocêk, otchek ("fisher") or Ojibwe ojiig ("fisher, marten"), subsequently reapplied to the groundhog.

An earlier form of this word, "woodshock", still sometimes designated the marten.

Full definition of woodchuck

Noun

1. A rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots, .How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? — popular tongue-twister.

Synonyms

• (rodent of the family Sciuridae) groundhog, whistle-pig, land-beaver, moonack