The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Gopher \Go"pher\, n. [F. gaufre waffle, honeycomb. See
   Gauffer.] (Zool.)
   1. One of several North American burrowing rodents of the
      genera Geomys and Thomomys, of the family
      Geomyid[ae]; -- called also pocket gopher and pouched
      rat. See Pocket gopher, and Tucan.
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   Note: The name was originally given by French settlers to
         many burrowing rodents, from their honeycombing the
         earth.
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   2. One of several western American species of the genus
      Spermophilus, of the family Sciurid[ae]; as, the gray
      gopher (Spermophilus Franklini) and the striped gopher
      (S. tridecemlineatus); -- called also striped prairie
      squirrel, leopard marmot, and leopard spermophile.
      See Spermophile.
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   3. A large land tortoise (Testudo Carilina) of the Southern
      United States, which makes extensive burrows.
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   4. A large burrowing snake (Spilotes Couperi) of the
      Southern United States.
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   Gopher drift (Mining), an irregular prospecting drift,
      following or seeking the ore without regard to regular
      grade or section. --Raymond.
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