Squirrel

//ˈskwɝ(ə)l// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae.

    "tree squirrels"

  2. 2
    a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail wordnet
  3. 3
    Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae.; Any of those distinguished typically by a large bushy tail; any of the tree squirrels of subfamily Sciurinae or phenotypically similar sciurids. especially
  4. 4
    the fur of a squirrel wordnet
  5. 5
    Someone who displays squirrel-like qualities such as stealing or hoarding objects.
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work with the large cylinder.
  2. 7
    A person, usually a freezoner, who applies L. Ron Hubbard's technology in a heterodox manner. derogatory, often
Verb
  1. 1
    To store in a secretive manner, to hide something for future use transitive
  2. 2
    To become distracted intransitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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.

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