Hamster

Meaning

Concepts

hamster

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhamstɐ/

Cognate with Avestan

𐬵𐬀𐬨𐬀𐬉𐬯𐬙𐬀𐬭-

In summary

From Middle High German hamster, from Old High German hamastra, hamustro, probably from Old East Slavic хомѣсторъ (xoměstorŭ), хомѣстаръ (xoměstarŭ). Further explained as a borrowing into Slavic from Iranian, compare Avestan 𐬵𐬀𐬨𐬀𐬉𐬯𐬙𐬀𐬭- (hamaēstar-, “who throws down (in this case: corn stalks), oppresses”). Alternatively, a compound of (1) хомѣкъ (xoměkŭ, “hamster”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *kāmjas and of (2) Baltic *staras, but this would require irregular compound formation (*хомѣкосторъ would be expected, unless perhaps the compound was based on a word whose diminutive was хомѣкъ) and an irregular Proto-Slavic *x from Proto-Balto-Slavic *k.