squirrel

English

Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

Alternative forms

Etymology

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. See dialectical English con and puristic English oakwern.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation, Australia) IPA(key): /ˈskwɪ.ɹ(ə)l/
    • Audio (UK):(file)
  • (Canada, US) IPA(key): /ˈskwɝ(ə)l/
  • (Scotland, Wales) IPA(key): /ˈskwɪ.ɾ(ə)l/
  • (New York City) IPA(key): /ˈskwʌ.ɹəl/
  • (New England, very dated) IPA(key): /ˈskwɪ.ɹəl/
  • (South Asia) IPA(key): /ˈskwɪrᵻl/
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)l, -ɪɹəl
  • Hyphenation: squir‧rel, squirrel

Noun

squirrel (plural squirrels)

  2. Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae.
    Synonym: sciurid
    Hypernyms: rodent < mammal < animal < critter, creature
    Hyponyms: chipmunk, groundhog, woodchuck, marmot
    tree squirrels;   ground squirrels;   flying squirrels
    2. (especially, when without a qualifier) Any of those distinguished typically by a large bushy tail; any of the tree squirrels of subfamily Sciurinae or phenotypically similar sciurids.
      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. (figurative) 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.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

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

  1. (transitive, figuratively) To store in a secretive manner, to hide something for future use.
  2. (intransitive, figuratively) To become distracted.

Derived terms

Translations

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