An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Hamster

by Friedrich Kluge

Hamster, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German hamster, masculine, ‘German marmot’; Old High German hamastro, masculine, signifies only ‘curculio, weevil,’ so too Old Saxon hamstra, feminine, for *hamastra. The existing meaning is probably the earlier. In form the word stands quite alone; its occurrence in German only, perhaps supports the view that it was borrowed. A corresponding word has not yet been found in a neighbouring language.