The name “hamster” is believed to have originated from the German word “hamstern,” which means “to hoard” or “to stash away.” This name is thought to be a reference to the hamster’s natural behavior of collecting and storing food in their cheek pouches. The hamster’s habit of hoarding food for later consumption likely contributed to the choice of this name. Over time, the word “hamstern” was anglicized to “hamster,” and it has been widely used to refer to these small rodents ever since.
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