prairie dog

prairie dog

noun

Definition of PRAIRIE DOG

: any of a genus (Cynomys) of gregarious burrowing rodents of the squirrel family chiefly of central and western United States plains; especially : a black-tailed rodent (C. ludovicianus) that usually lives in extensive colonial burrows

Illustration of PRAIRIE DOG

First Known Use of PRAIRIE DOG

1774

Rhymes with PRAIRIE DOG

analog, analogue, apologue, attack dog, catalog, chili dog, decalogue, dialogue, dog-eat-dog, duologue, epilogue, hearing dog, homologue, leopard frog, monologue, mummichog, overdog, police dog, pollywog, running dog, shaggy-dog, sinologue, theologue, Tagalog, travelogue, underdog, water dog, waterlog, working dog, yellow-dog

prairie dog

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of five species (genus Cynomys) of short-legged, terrestrial squirrels, named for their barklike call. Once abundant throughout the plains of the western U.S., part of southern Canada, and northern Mexico, they are now found mostly in isolated or protected areas. They are 12–17 in. (30–43 cm) long, including a 1–5-in. (3–12-cm) tail. Their main diet is grass. Colonies consist of well-defined territories defended by a male, several females, and young. The burrows of the black-tailed prairie dog have carefully tended funnel-shaped entry mounds that prevent flooding and serve as lookout posts. The white-tailed prairie dog inhabits higher altitudes, hibernates, and is less colonial.