squirrel Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
  2. noun the fur of a squirrel

WordNet

Squir"rel noun
Etymology
OE. squirel, OF. esquirel, escurel, F. écureuil, LL. squirelus, squirolus, scuriolus, dim. of L. sciurus, Gr. si`oyros; skia` shade + o'yra` tail. Cf. Shine, v. i.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus Sciurus and several allied genera of the famly Sciuridæ. Squirrels generally have a bushy tail, large erect ears, and strong hind legs. They are commonly arboreal in their habits, but many species live in burrows. ✍ Among the common North American squirrels are the gray squirrel (Scirius Carolinensis) and its black variety; the fox, or cat, sqirrel (S. cinereus, or S. niger) which is a large species, and variable in color, the southern variety being frequently black, while the northern and western varieties are usually gray or rusty brown; the red squirrel (see Chickaree); the striped, or chipping, squirrel (see Chipmunk); and the California gray squirrel (S. fossor). Several other species inhabit Mexico and Central America. The common European species (Sciurus vulgaris) has a long tuft of hair on each ear. the so-called Australian squirrels are marsupials. See Petaurist, and Phalanger.
  2. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work with the large cylinder.

Webster 1913