a burrowing rodent, Aplodontia rufa, of W North America: family Aplodontidae
See full dictionary entry for beaver
mountain beaver in American English
noun
a small, burrowing rodent, Aplodontia rufa, of the Pacific coastal region of North America, considered the most primitive living rodent
Also called: sewellel
Word origin
[1880–85, Amer.]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Chief of Staff, irredentist, quotation mark, rain check, regionalism