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squirrel

noun

  1. common rodent, family of mammals
L254301 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈskwɪ.ɹ(ə)l/ / /ˈskwɝ(ə)l/ / /ˈskwɪ.ɾ(ə)l/

noun

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.

  1. Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae.

    “tree squirrels”

    “ground squirrels”

  2. 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. A person, usually a freezoner, who applies L. Ron Hubbard's technology in a heterodox manner.

verb

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.

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