small furry-tailed squirrel-like Old World rodent that becomes torpid in cold weather
Any of several species of small, mostly European rodents of the family Gliridae; also called Myoxidae or Muscardinidae by some taxonomists.
The word likely comes from a dialectal combination of Old Norse words meaning "benumbed" and "mouse." Although some have suggested it derives from an Old French phrase for "sleeping," there is no evidence that such a French word ever existed.