Burrowing

/ˈbɜr.oʊ.ɪŋ/ verb

Definition

Digging or tunneling underground to create a hole or passage, usually to make a home or hide.

Etymology

From Middle English 'burwen,' related to Old English 'byrgel' meaning 'burial place' or 'tomb.' The meaning shifted from the holes themselves to the action of digging them.

Kelly Says

Burrowing animals are engineers of the underground—rabbits, moles, and prairie dogs literally reshape entire ecosystems with their tunnels, creating pathways that water flows through and other creatures use.

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