Rodentia \Ro*den"ti*a\, n. pl. [NL. See Rodent, a.]

(Zo["o]l.) An order of mammals having two (rarely four) large incisor teeth in each jaw, distant from the molar teeth. The rats, squirrels, rabbits, marmots, and beavers belong to this order.

Note: The incisor teeth are long, curved, and strongly enameled on the outside, so as to keep a cutting edge. They have a persistent pulp and grow continuously.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)