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View synonyms for squirrel

squirrel

[ skwur-uhl, skwuhr-or, especially British, skwir-uhl ]

noun

, plural squir·rels, (especially collectively) squir·rel.
  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.



verb (used with object)

, squir·reled, squir·rel·ing or (especially British) squir·relled, squir·rel·ling.
  1. to store or hide (money, valuables, etc.), usually for the future (often followed by away ):

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

squirrel

/ 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 sciurine
  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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. informal.
    trusually foll byaway to store for future use; hoard
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈsquirrel-ˌlike, adjective
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Other Words From

  • squirrel·ish squirrel·like adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of squirrel1

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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of squirrel1

C14: from Old French esquireul , from Late Latin sciūrus , from Greek skiouros , from skia shadow + oura tail
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Example Sentences

While other gliders like flying squirrels have a patagium that stretches to the hind feet, a colugo’s patagium continues all the way to the tip of the tail.

A chance sighting of a fluorescent flying squirrel in the wild had led the researchers to the mammal collection at the Field Museum in Chicago.

They also were carrying more bulk relative to their wing area than present-day gliders like flying squirrels, which meant the dinosaurs would need to glide faster to generate enough lift to keep themselves aloft.

So join me in making sure you and all your squirrel friends are registered to vote, have a plan to vote, and will vote early.

Squirrels have learned to visit people’s bird feeders, so some coyotes “crouch and hide near bird feeders,” waiting to pounce on a tasty squirrel, says Gehrt.

Inside the squirrel suit, an intern named Justin can be found.

Williams said the RNC has not decided on a sex or a name for the squirrel other than HRC Squirrel.

This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.

Then, we see Mr. Rabbit in the woods crushing a squirrel to death with his bare hands.

Instead, Vegard wore a squirrel costume and Bard wore a bear costume.

"My name is Slicko," answered the lively little girl squirrel, as she jumped about.

Squinty looked up in the tree, and there he saw a lovely little girl squirrel, frisking about on the branches.

One was a hollow tree literally filled with walnuts, gathered presumably by a thrifty squirrel the previous fall.

Was it some one who had watched the swift, sure-footed spring of a bushy-tailed squirrel from branch to branch?

Schwartzmann—who would put an end to his life as casually as he would bring down a squirrel from one of those trees!

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squirmysquirrel away