Definition of "gerbil" []

• Any of various small, mouselike rodents of the genus Gerbillus and related genera of arid regions of Africa and Asia Minor, having long hind legs and a long tail. (noun)
• The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus), having large dark eyes and a long furry tail and often kept as a pet. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "My cute pet gerbil is named after bat/dove decapitator Ozzy osbourne."
• "Claiming that serving in combat is a prerequisite for wise decision-making on the application of military force to international relations is like claiming that a gerbil is an expert on the economics pet stores."
• "More than anything, the gerbil is the frightened part of you that just wants to be loved."