parka squirrel

English

Etymology

So called because the Eskimos use the pelts of these squirrels to make parkas.

Noun

parka squirrel (plural parka squirrels)

  1. Synonym of Arctic ground squirrel
    • 2001, Larry Kaniut, Bear Tales for the Ages: From Alaska and Beyond, →ISBN, page 121:
      On the prairie there are little mounds made by generations of parka squirrels. The old-time Eskimo would find a bear that was hunting squirrels and then slip around into its path. Prone behind a parka squirrel's mound, the Eskimo would thrust up his forearm with fist doubled to imitate a squirrel, at the same time chirping like an alarmed squirrel.
    • 2003, James Kari, James A. Fall, Shem Pete, Shem Pete's Alaska: The Territory of the Upper Cook Inlet Dena'ina, →ISBN:
      They only had one parka squirrel coat.
    • 2016, Lois Crisler, Arctic Wild, →ISBN:
      The wolves had not noticed the distant caribou, and Cris gave each a parka squirrel to hold them with him.
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.