Lem″ming (lĕm″mĭng), n. [Nor. lemming, lemende; cf. Sw. lemel, Lapp. lummik.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of small arctic rodents of the genera Myodes and Cuniculus, resembling the meadow mice in form. They are found in both hemispheres.
☞ The common Northern European lemming (Myodes lemmus) is remarkable for making occasional devastating migrations in enormous numbers from the mountains into the lowlands.