squirrel
pronunciation
How to pronounce squirrel in British English:
UK [ˈskwɪrəl]
How to pronounce squirrel in American English:
US [ˈskwɜːrəl]
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- Noun:
- a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
- the fur of a squirrel
Word Origin
- squirrel
- squirrel: [14] The squirrel’s name means etymologically ‘little shadow-tail’. It comes via Anglo-Norman esquirel from Vulgar Latin *scūriōlus, a diminutive form of *scūrius. This was an alteration of Latin sciūrus ‘squirrel’ (now the scientific name for the squirrel genus), which in turn came from Greek skíouros, a compound formed from skiá ‘shadow’ and ourá ‘tail’.=> constable, establish, stand
- squirrel (n.)
- early 14c., from Anglo-French esquirel, Old French escurueil "squirrel; squirrel fur" (Modern French écureuil), from Vulgar Latin *scuriolus, diminutive of *scurius "squirrel," variant of Latin sciurus, from Greek skiouros "a squirrel," literally "shadow-tailed," from skia "shadow" (see shine (v.)) + oura "tail," from PIE root *ors- "buttocks, backside" (see arse). Perhaps the original notion is "that which makes a shade with its tail." The Old English word was acweorna, which survived into Middle English as aquerne.
- squirrel (v.)
- "to hoard up, store away" (as a squirrel does nuts), 1939, from squirrel (n.). Related: Squirreled; squirreling.
Example
- 1. A squirrel sits in a snowy tree , moscow .
- 2. She knows every squirrel in bronx park .
- 3. Cat and squirrel parted without incident .
- 4. A frog and a squirrel were neighbors .
- 5. This is gnocchi the squirrel .