tree shrew

noun

any of several insectivorous, arboreal mammals of the family Tupaiidae, of southern Asia and adjacent islands, resembling a squirrel and having a long snout.

Origin of tree shrew

First recorded in 1890–95

Words nearby tree shrew

tree planters state, tree poppy, tree post, tree ring, tree runner, tree shrew, tree snail, tree snake, tree sparrow, tree squirrel, tree surgery

Example sentences from the Web for tree shrew

  • Finn further experimented with the tree-shrew or Tupaia (Tupaia ellioti), which feeds largely on insects.

    The Making of Species |Douglas Dewar

  • It is fairly certain that if the Tree-shrew is an enemy of butterflies in the wild state it is a discriminating one.

    Mimicry in Butterflies |Reginald Crundall Punnett

British Dictionary definitions for tree shrew

tree shrew

noun

any of numerous small arboreal mammals of the family Tupaiidae and order Scandentia, of SE Asia, having large eyes and resembling squirrels