The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Hamster \Ham"ster\ (-st[~e]r), n. [G. hamster.] (Zool.)
   A small European rodent (Cricetus frumentarius). It is
   remarkable for having a pouch on each side of the jaw, under
   the skin, and for its migrations. Hamsters are commonly kept
   as a pets.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

hamster
    n 1: short-tailed Old World burrowing rodent with large cheek
         pouches

The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

hamster
 n.

    1. [Fairchild] A particularly slick little piece of code that does one
    thing well; a small, self-contained hack. The image is of a hamster 
    happily spinning its exercise wheel.

    2. A tailless mouse; that is, one with an infrared link to a receiver on
    the machine, as opposed to the conventional cable.

    3. [UK] Any item of hardware made by Amstrad, a company famous for its
    cheap plastic PC-almost-compatibles.


The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

hamster

   1.  (From Fairchild) A particularly slick
   little piece of code that does one thing well; a small,
   self-contained hack.  The image is of a hamster happily
   spinning its exercise wheel.

   2.  A tailless mouse; that is, one with an infrared
   link to a receiver on the machine, as opposed to the
   conventional cable.

   3.  (UK) Any item of hardware made by Amstrad, a
   company famous for its cheap plastic PC-almost-compatibles.

   [Jargon File]

   (1995-02-16)