gopher \go"pher\, n. f. gaufre waffle, honeycomb. see
   gauffer. zool.
   1. one of several north american burrowing rodents of the
      genera geomys and thomomys, of the family
      geomyidae; -- called also pocket gopher and pouched
      rat. see pocket gopher, and tucan.
      1913 webster

   note: the name was originally given by french settlers to
         many burrowing rodents, from their honeycombing the
         earth.
         1913 webster

   2. one of several western american species of the genus
      spermophilus, of the family sciuridae; as, the gray
      gopher spermophilus franklini and the striped gopher
      s. tridecemlineatus; -- called also striped prairie
      squirrel, leopard marmot, and leopard spermophile.
      see spermophile.
      1913 webster

   3. a large land tortoise testudo carilina of the southern
      united states, which makes extensive burrows.
      1913 webster

   4. a large burrowing snake spilotes couperi of the
      southern united states.
      1913 webster

   gopher drift mining, an irregular prospecting drift,
      following or seeking the ore without regard to regular
      grade or section. --raymond.
      1913 webster
see also:
gauffer geomys thomomys geomyidae pocket gopher pouched rat 
pocket gopher tucan spermophilus sciuridae spermophilus franklini 
s. tridecemlineatus striped prairie squirrel leopard marmot leopard spermophile spermophile 
testudo carilina spilotes couperi gopher drift