red squirrel
Americannoun
noun
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a reddish-brown squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris , inhabiting woodlands of Europe and parts of Asia
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either of two reddish-brown squirrels, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus or T. douglasii , inhabiting forests of North America
Etymology
Origin of red squirrel
An Americanism dating back to 1630–40
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Endangered red squirrel populations have plummeted from about 3.5 million to less than 300,000 in the UK, with their grey-haired rivals continuing to thrive.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
"We work with and support partner organisations and volunteer red squirrel groups as part of our conservation activity."
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
It also wants support for fertility control research and deployment, and protection and enforcement of red squirrel habitat.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
The country's flora and fauna will feature on them all, with animals including the red squirrel, puffin and dormouse depicted.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2025
A red squirrel quested, hesitating a little, into the firelight.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
