squirrel

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An Eastern Gray Squirrel

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Anglo-Norman esquirel, from Old French escurel (modern French écureuil), from Vulgar Latin scuriolus, diminutive of scurius, variant of Latin sciurus, from Ancient Greek σκίουρος (skíouros) < σκιά (skiá), shade, shadow) + οὐρά (ourá), tail).

[edit] Pronunciation

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[edit] Noun

Singular
squirrel

Plural
squirrels

squirrel (plural squirrels)

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

[edit] Translations

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[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to squirrel

Third person singular
squirrels

Simple past
squirreled

Past participle
squirreled

Present participle
squirreling

to squirrel (third-person singular simple present squirrels, present participle squirreling, simple past and past participle squirreled)

  1. with "away": To hoard in a hidden place, by analogy to squirrels' habit of hoarding nuts.
  2. with "around": To move or search erratically, especially as if hurried or confused.
    My mother warned me not to squirrel around in my dad's workshop.

[edit] Usage notes

The participles with a double 'l' (squirrelling and squirrelled) are less common, but supported by the OED for UK usage.

[edit] Translations

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