1.
[syn: kangaroo mouse, dwarf pocket rat]
2. leaping rodent of Australian desert areas;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Jumping \Jump"ing\, p. a. & vb. n.
of Jump, to leap.
[1913 Webster]
Jumping bean, a seed of a Mexican Euphorbia, containing
the larva of a moth (Carpocapsa saltitans). The larva by
its sudden movements causes the seed to roll to roll and
jump about.
Jumping deer (Zool.), a South African rodent (Pedetes
Caffer), allied to the jerboa.
Jumping louse (Zool.), any of the numerous species of plant
lice belonging to the family Psyllid[ae], several of
which are injurious to fruit trees.
Jumping mouse (Zool.), North American mouse (Zapus
Hudsonius), having a long tail and large hind legs. It is
noted for its jumping powers. Called also kangaroo
mouse.
Jumping mullet (Zool.), gray mullet.
Jumping shrew (Zool.), any African insectivore of the genus
Macroscelides. They are allied to the shrews, but have
large hind legs adapted for jumping.
Jumping spider (Zool.), spider of the genus Salticus and
other related genera; one of the Saltigrad[ae]; -- so
called because it leaps upon its prey.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
kangaroo \kan"ga*roo"\, n. [Said to be the native name.] (Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of jumping marsupials of the
family Macropodid[ae]. They inhabit Australia, New Guinea,
and adjacent islands, They have long and strong hind legs and
a large tail, while the fore legs are comparatively short and
feeble. The giant kangaroo (Macropus major) is the largest
species, sometimes becoming twelve or fourteen feet in total
length. The tree kangaroos, belonging to the genus
Dendrolagus, live in trees; the rock kangaroos, of the
genus Petrogale, inhabit rocky situations; and the brush
kangaroos, of the genus Halmaturus, inhabit wooded
districts. See Wallaby.
[1913 Webster]
Kangaroo apple (Bot.), the edible fruit of the Tasmanian
plant Solanum aviculare.
Kangaroo grass (Bot.), a perennial Australian forage grass
(Anthistiria australis).
Kangaroo hare (Zool.), the jerboa kangaroo. See under
Jerboa.
Kangaroo mouse. (Zool.) See Jumping mouse, under
Jumping.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
kangaroo mouse
n 1: small silky-haired pouched rodent; similar to but smaller
than kangaroo rats [syn: kangaroo mouse, dwarf pocket
rat]
2: leaping rodent of Australian desert areas