squirrel

Wikispecies

From Middle English squirel, squyrelle, from Anglo-Norman esquirel and Old French escurel (whence French écureuil), from Vulgar Latin *scūriolus, diminutive of *scūrius, variant of Latin sciūrus, from Ancient Greek σκίουρος (skíouros, “shadow-tail”, from σκιά (skiá, “shadow”) +‎ οὐρά (ourá, “tail”)).

Displaced native Middle English acquerne, aquerne, from Old English ācweorna.

• (Received Pronunciation, General Australian, UK) IPA^(key): /ˈskwɪ.ɹ(ə)l/

  • Audio (UK):

    (file)

• (Canada, US) IPA^(key): /ˈskwɝ(ə)l/

  • Audio (Canada):

    (file)

• (New York City) IPA^(key): /ˈskwʌ.ɹəl/
• (New England, very dated) IPA^(key): /ˈskwɪ.ɹəl/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)l, -ɪɹəl
• Hyphenation: squir‧rel, squirrel

squirrel (plural squirrels)

2. Any rodent of the family Sciuridae, distinguished typically by a large bushy tail.

   Synonym: scug (provincial)

   Hyponym: squirreless (rare)

   Coordinate terms: chipmunk; groundhog, woodchuck; marmot

   • 1865, Henry David Thoreau, Cape Cod, Chapter IX, "The Sea and the Desert", page 187:

     He also said that minks, muskrats, foxes, coons, and wild mice were found there, but no squirrels.

3. Someone who displays squirrel-like qualities such as stealing or hoarding objects.
4. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work with the large cylinder.
5. (Scientology, often derogatory) A person, usually a freezoner, who applies L. Ron Hubbard's technology in a heterodox manner.

squirrel (third-person singular simple present squirrels, present participle squirreling or (Commonwealth) squirrelling, simple past and past participle squirreled or (Commonwealth) squirrelled)

1. (transitive) To store in a secretive manner, to hide something for future use

• squirrel around
• squirrel away