flying squirrel

American  

noun

1. any of various nocturnal tree squirrels, as Glaucomys volans, of the eastern U.S., having folds of skin connecting the fore and hind legs, permitting long, gliding leaps.

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flying squirrel British  

noun

1. any nocturnal sciurine rodent of the subfamily Petauristinae , of Asia and North America. Furry folds of skin between the forelegs and hind legs enable these animals to move by gliding leaps

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Etymology

Origin of flying squirrel

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

Supporting characters like Fiona, a flying squirrel, and Dash, a deer mouse, round out the cast.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

For example, it has been reported that EU legislation to protect the rare Siberian flying squirrel has also slowed down major infrastructure projects in places like Finland.

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2024

First of all, the woolly flying squirrel — Eupetaurus cinereus — is big: three feet from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail.

From Washington Post • Apr. 11, 2023

The greater glider, which resembles a flying squirrel and was once common in national parks, has also been moved to the endangered list, along with the pink and black gang gang cockatoo.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2022

He could happily spend an afternoon tracking a flying squirrel across forests or a rainbow trout down rivers.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman