Squirrel

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈskwɪ.ɹ(ə)l/

Definitions

1. A rodent, typically characterized by a bushy tail and a preference for arboreal habitats, is well-known for gathering food such as nuts and seeds for sustenance and winter reserves
2. Known for its agility and climbing skills, this small mammal often inhabits wooded areas and is recognized for its playful antics while foraging for food
3. A small rodent with a distinctive bushy tail, it is commonly found in trees and is known for storing nuts and seeds as food sources for colder months

Etymology: The Greek word "skíouros" meant "shadow-tail," a compound of "skiá" (shadow) and "ourá" (tail), and it was a fitting name for an animal that sweeps its bushy tail over its body like a parasol. Latin borrowed it as "sciūrus," and from there the word spread through the Romance languages in diminutive forms. Old French produced "escurel," a little squirrel, which passed into Anglo-Norman and then into Middle English as "squirel." English once had a different name for the animal. Old English used "ācweorna," which survived in Middle English as "acquerne" and "aquerne" before being pushed aside by the French-derived term. A few dialects kept traces of the older word, and in one of them "con" (as in "oakwern" relatives) lingered as a fragment of that native vocabulary.

Synonyms: rodent, tree-dweller