English

Chipmunk, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel

Arapaho

xoxooyóni'

Translation of the Arapaho

‘striped rodent’

Technical Information

Chipmunks are Eutamias spp; Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel is Spermophilus tridecemlineatus; Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel is permophilus lateralis.

 

Chipmunks and the Arapaho

Today, this name is used for any small, striped rodent.

Hayden’s report from 1863 gives this word specifically for the Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel. He gives the word <na u> for chipmunks. This is certainly the word no’uh(h), used for ‘squirrel’ today. It appears that in former times, the word here was more restricted.

 

A Least Chipmunk