[krahy-see-tid, -set-id, kri-] 
| any of a diverse group of scampering, digging, or jumping rodents of the family Cricetidae, including the gerbils, hamsters, field mice, deer mice, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and several wood and field rats. |
| cri·ce·tid (krī-sē'tĭd, -sět'ĭd) n. Any of various small rodents of the family Cricetidae, which includes muskrats and gerbils. [From New Latin Cricetidae, family name, from Cricetus, hamster genus, from Medieval Latin cricetus, hamster, perhaps from Old Czech křeček, diminutive of křeč, of imitative origin.] cri·ce'tid adj. |