Gopher /(?)/

Go·pher

Gopher

n.
  1. One of several North American burrowing rodents of the genera Geomys and Thomomys, of the family Geomyidæ; -- called also pocket gopher and pouched rat. See Pocket gopher, and Tucan. (Zool.)
  2. One of several western American species of the genus Spermophilus, of the family Sciuridæ; as, the gray gopher (Spermophilus Franklini) and the striped gopher (S. tridecemlineatus); -- called also striped prairie squirrel, leopard marmot, and leopard spermophile. See Spermophile.
  3. A large land tortoise (Testudo Carilina) of the Southern United States, which makes extensive burrows.
  4. A large burrowing snake (Spilotes Couperi) of the Southern United States.

Phrases & Compounds
Gopher drift
an irregular prospecting drift, following or seeking the ore without regard to regular grade or section.