Meaning
A small arctic and subarctic rodent of the tribes Lemmini, Dicrostonychini and Lagurini.
Etymology
Origin: Old Norse
From Danish and Norwegian lemming, from Old Norse lómundr, læmingi, læmingr (“lemming”), perhaps from Sami luomek. Sense 2 derives from a longstanding myth that they exhibit so much herd mentality that populations jump off cliffs to their deaths together.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles: