squirrel

Meaning

Noun

1. Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae.
2. (especially) Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae.
3. 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. (derogatory, often) A person, usually a freezoner, who applies L. Ron Hubbard's technology in a heterodox manner.

Verb

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

Synonyms

rodent

red squirrel

hoard

see also

store

grey squirrel

tree squirrel

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

cat squirrel

flying squirrel

palm rat

grey

Translations

écureuil

scoiattolo

ardilla

Eichhörnchen

eekhoorn

esquirol

esquilo

sincap

σκίουρος

sciurus

esquiròl

Hörnchen

سنجاب

eekhoorntje

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈskwɪɹl̩/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: squirel

Cognate with French: écureuil

In summary

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.