gray squirrel

American  

[grey skwur-uhl, skwuhr‐] / ˈgreɪ ˈskwɜr əl, ˈskwʌr‐ /

noun

1. a gray-colored arboreal squirrel: North American species include the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis ) of the eastern and midwestern U.S. and southeastern Canada, the western gray squirrel (S. griseus ) of the coastal western U.S. and Mexico, the Arizona gray squirrel (S. arizonensis ) of eastern Arizona and adjacent Mexico, and the Mexican gray squirrel (S. aureogaster ), found from Guatemala north through eastern Mexico to the Florida Keys.

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Etymology

Origin of gray squirrel

An Americanism dating back to 1615–25

Example Sentences

Birdfeeders may need squirrel-proof housing to avoid interlopers like the non-native gray squirrel.

From Seattle Times • May 26, 2022

She had been happily feeding the gray squirrel — “Little Buddy,” she called it — since spring.

From Washington Post • Apr. 9, 2022

These are a different species from the common Eastern gray squirrel, but both are experts at navigating treetops.

From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2021

The other was a gluttonous fellow named Timmy Tiptoes — and he was a bushy-tailed gray squirrel.

From Washington Post • Mar. 6, 2017

The sight of a furry gray squirrel makes me sigh with relief.

From "Dragons in a Bag" by Zetta Elliott