squirrel

American  

[skwur-uhl, skwuhr-, skwir-uhl] / ˈskwɜr əl, ˈskwʌr-, ˈskwɪr əl /

noun

plural

squirrels,

plural

squirrel

1. any of numerous arboreal, bushy-tailed rodents of the genus Sciurus, of the family Sciuridae.

2. any of various other members of the family Sciuridae, as the chipmunks, flying squirrels, and woodchucks.

3. the meat of such an animal.

4. the pelt or fur of such an animal.

   a coat trimmed with squirrel.

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verb (used with object)

squirreled, squirreling, squirrelled, squirrelling

1. to store or hide (money, valuables, etc.), usually for the future (often followed byaway ).

   I've squirreled away a few dollars for an emergency.

squirrel British  

/ ˈskwʌr-, ˈskwɜːrəl, ˈskwɪrəl /

noun

1. any arboreal sciurine rodent of the genus Sciurus , such as S. vulgaris ( red squirrel ) or S. carolinensis ( grey squirrel ), having a bushy tail and feeding on nuts, seeds, etc

2. any other rodent of the family Sciuridae , such as a ground squirrel or a marmot

3. the fur of such an animal

4. informal a person who hoards things

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verb

1. informal to store for future use; hoard

Other Word Forms

• squirrel-like adjective
• squirrelish adjective
• squirrellike adjective

Etymology

Origin of squirrel

1325–75; Middle English squirel < Anglo-French escuirel ( Old French escuireul ) ≪ Vulgar Latin *scūrellus, *scūriolus, representing Latin sciurus (< Greek skíouros literally, shadow-tailed ( ski ( á ) shadow + -ouros, adj. derivative of ourá tail); apparently so called because the tail was large enough to provide shade for the rest of the animal) with diminutive suffixes -ellus, -olus

Example Sentences

Rattlesnakes like to hide in complex rocky outcrops, tall grass and squirrel burrows.

From Los Angeles Times

“Saloli,” she muttered, because that was the Cherokee word for squirrel.

From Literature

A squirrel raiding our bird feeder natters at me in irritation before it hops away to try its luck at the bird feeder two houses over.

From Literature

There were squirrels, toads, coyotes, skunks, an otter, crows, boars, and one mammoth-sized porcupine.

From Literature

Locals give directions to out-of-towners using churches as landmarks, and a Masonic lodge was promoting a squirrel hunt one recent day.

From The Wall Street Journal