squirrel
nounverbcommon in dialogue
- Canada//ˈskwɝ(ə)l//
- Australia//ˈskwɪ.ɹ(ə)l//
- Scotland//ˈskwɪ.ɾ(ə)l//
- //ˈskwʌ.ɹəl//
Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae.
noun
- 1
Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae.
tree squirrels
ground squirrels
flying squirrels
He also said that minks, muskrats, foxes, coons, and wild mice were found there, but no squirrels.
- 2
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.
- 3
figurativeSomeone 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
A person, usually a freezoner, who applies L. Ron Hubbard's technology in a heterodox manner.
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.
verb
- 1
figurativeTo store in a secretive manner, to hide something for future use.
- 2
figurativeTo become distracted.
Forms
- plural
- squirrels
- past tense
- squirreled, squirrelled
- past participle
- squirreled, squirrelled
- present participle
- squirreling, squirrelling
- third person singular
- squirrels
squirrel · Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae.
squirt · An instrument from which a liquid is forcefully ejected in a…SS · A shiptype Initialism of subsurface, a subsurface ship, a…ssh · Be quiet or reduce the volume.