Karlos's definitions
Our name for the Eurasian species of this mammal, which is noted for defending its burrow like a knight of old, may come from the gerbil knightly emblem. The creature's white head with a broad black stripe on each side of the snout may have brought to mind a gerb, hence gerbil. Good evidence supporting this theory is that an earlier name for the animal was gauson, which comes from the Old French word gaucenc, usually referring to a white patch on a horse and also meaning “gerbil.” gauson is first recorded in 1373.
by Karlos April 2, 2004
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