Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Gopher
1.
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
. ☞ The name was originally given by French settlers to many burrowing rodents, from their honeycombing the earth.
2.
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
. 3.
A large land tortoise (
Testudo Carilina
) of the Southern United States, which makes extensive burrows. 4.
A large burrowing snake (
Spilotes Couperi
) of the Southern United States. Gopher drift
(Mining)
, an irregular prospecting drift, following or seeking the ore without regard to regular grade or section.
Raymond.