squirrel

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): /ˈskwɪɹl̩/, /ˈskwɪɹəl/
• (Canada, US) IPA^(key): /ˈskwɝl/, /ˈskwɝl̩/, /ˈskwɝəl/
• (NYC) IPA^(key): /ˈskwʌɹəl/
• (New England, very dated) IPA^(key): /ˈskwɪɹəl/

• Audio (Canada)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)l, -ɪɹəl

squirrel (plural squirrels)

Wikispecies

1. Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae distinguished by their large bushy tail.
   • 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.

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

• scug (provincial)

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