n. 1 (in full pocket gopher) any burrowing rodent of the family Geomyidae, native to n. America, having external cheek pouches and sharp front teeth. 2 a n. American ground squirrel. 3 a tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, native to the southern US, that excavates tunnels as shelter from the sun. gopher snake a cribo.
[ 18th c.: orig. uncert. ]