Main Entry: ger·bil Variant(s): also ger·bille /'j&r-b&l/ Function: noun Etymology: French gerbille, from New Latin Gerbillus, diminutive of gerboa, jerboa jerboa Date: 1849 : any of numerous Old World burrowing desert rodents (Gerbillus and related genera) with long hind legs adapted for leaping Main Entry: ro·dent Pronunciation: 'rO-d&nt Function: noun Etymology: ultimately from Latin rodent-, rodens, present participle of rodere to gnaw; akin to Latin radere to scrape, scratch, Sanskrit...