| Rodent | a. [ L. rodens, -entis, p. pr. of rodere to gnaw. See Rase, v. t., and cf. Rostrum. ] 1. Gnawing; biting; corroding; (Med.) applied to a destructive variety of cancer or ulcer. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Zool.) (a) Gnawing. (b) Of or pertaining to the Rodentia. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Rodentia | ‖n. pl. [ NL. See Rodent, a. ] (Zool.) An order of mammals having two (rarely four) large incisor teeth in each jaw, distant from the molar teeth. The rats, squirrels, rabbits, marmots, and beavers belong to this order. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ The incisor teeth are long, curved, and strongly enameled on the outside, so as to keep a cutting edge. They have a persistent pulp and grow continuously. [ 1913 Webster ] |
