squirrel
[ skwur-uh l, skwuhr- or, esp. British, skwir-uh l ]
/ ˈskwɜr əl, ˈskwʌr- or, esp. British, ˈskwɪr əl /
noun, plural squir·rels, (especially collectively) squir·rel.
any of numerous arboreal, bushy-tailed rodents of the genus Sciurus, of the family Sciuridae.
any of various other members of the family Sciuridae, as the chipmunks, flying squirrels, and woodchucks.
the meat of such an animal.
the pelt or fur of such an animal: a coat trimmed with squirrel.
verb (used with object), squir·reled, squir·rel·ing or (especially British) squir·relled, squir·rel·ling.
to store or hide (money, valuables, etc.), usually for the future (often followed by away): I've squirreled away a few dollars for an emergency.
Origin of squirrel
1325–75; Middle English
squirel < Anglo-French
escuirel (Old French
escuireul) ≪ Vulgar Latin
*scūrellus,
*scūriolus, representing Latin
sciurus (< Greek
skíouros literally, shadow-tailed (
ski(á) shadow +
-ouros, adj. derivative of
ourá tail); apparently so called because the tail was large enough to provide shade for the rest of the animal) with diminutive suffixes
-ellus, -olus
OTHER WORDS FROM squirrel
squir·rel·ish, squir·rel·like, adjectiveWords nearby squirrel
British Dictionary definitions for squirrel away
squirrel
/ (ˈskwɪrəl, US ˈskwɜːrəl, ˈskwʌr-) /
noun plural -rels or -rel
any arboreal sciurine rodent of the genus Sciurus, such as S. vulgaris (red squirrel) or S. carolinensis (grey squirrel), having a bushy tail and feeding on nuts, seeds, etc
Related adjective: sciurine
any other rodent of the family Sciuridae, such as a ground squirrel or a marmot
the fur of such an animal
informal
a person who hoards things
verb -rels, -relling or -relled or esp US -rels, -reling or -reled
(tr usually foll by away) informal
to store for future use; hoard
Derived forms of squirrel
squirrel-like, adjectiveWord Origin for squirrel
C14: from Old French
esquireul, from Late Latin
sciūrus, from Greek
skiouros, from
skia shadow +
oura tail
Idioms and Phrases with squirrel away
squirrel away
Hide or store, as in She squirreled away her savings in at least four different banks. This expression alludes to the squirrel's habit of hiding nuts and acorns in the ground. [First half of 1900s]