Squirrel

Squirrel
Squirrel Squir"rel (skw[~e]r"r[e^]l or skw[i^]r"-; 277), n. [OE. squirel, OF. esquirel, escurel, F. ['e]cureuil, LL. squirelus, squirolus, scuriolus, dim. of L. sciurus, Gr. si`oyros; skia` shade + o'yra` tail. Cf. {Shine}, v. i.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus {Sciurus} and several allied genera of the family {Sciurid[ae]}. 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. [1913 Webster]

Note: Among the common North American squirrels are the gray squirrel ({Sciurus Carolinensis}) and its black variety; the fox, or cat, squirrel ({Sciurus cinereus}, or {Sciurus 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 ({Sciurus 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}. [1913 Webster]

2. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work with the large cylinder. [1913 Webster]

{Barking squirrel} (Zo["o]l.), the prairie dog.

{Federation squirrel} (Zo["o]l.), the striped gopher. See {Gopher}, 2.

{Flying squirrel} (Zo["o]l.). See {Flying squirrel}, in the Vocabulary.

{Java squirrel}. (Zo["o]l.). See {Jelerang}.

{Squirrel corn} (Bot.), a North American herb ({Dicentra Canadensis}) bearing little yellow tubers.

{Squirrel cup} (Bot.), the blossom of the {Hepatica triloba}, a low perennial herb with cup-shaped flowers varying from purplish blue to pink or even white. It is one of the earliest flowers of spring.

{Squirrel fish}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A sea bass ({Serranus fascicularis}) of the Southern United States. (b) The sailor's choice ({Diplodus rhomboides}). (c) The redmouth, or grunt. (d) A market fish of Bermuda ({Holocentrum Ascensione}).

{Squirrel grass} (Bot.), a pestiferous grass ({Hordeum murinum}) related to barley. In California the stiffly awned spikelets work into the wool of sheep, and into the throat, flesh, and eyes of animals, sometimes even producing death.

{Squirrel hake} (Zo["o]l.), a common American hake ({Phycis tenuis}); -- called also {white hake}.

{Squirrel hawk} (Zo["o]l.), any rough-legged hawk; especially, the California species {Archibuteo ferrugineus}.

{Squirrel monkey}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any one of several species of small, soft-haired South American monkeys of the genus {Callithrix}. They are noted for their graceful form and agility. See {Teetee}. (b) A marmoset.

{Squirrel petaurus} (Zo["o]l.), a flying phalanger of Australia. See {Phalanger}, {Petaurist}, and {Flying phalanger} under {Flying}.

{Squirrel shrew} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of East Indian and Asiatic insectivores of the genus {Tupaia}. They are allied to the shrews, but have a bushy tail, like that of a squirrel.

{Squirrel-tail grass} (Bot.), a grass ({Hordeum jubatum}) found in salt marshes and along the Great Lakes, having a dense spike beset with long awns. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Squirrel — Класс языка: мультипарадигменный Тип исполнения: интерпретируемый, JIT Появился в: 2003 Автор(ы): Альберто Демичелис Релиз: 3.0.3 (19 июня 2012) Испыт …   Википедия

  • squirrel — early 14c., from Anglo Fr. esquirel, O.Fr. escurel (Fr. écureuil), from V.L. *scuriolus, dim. of *scurius squirrel, variant of L. sciurus, from Gk. skiouros a squirrel, lit. shadow tailed, from skia shadow (see SHINE (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • squirrel — [skwʉr′əl, skwʉrl] n. pl. squirrels or squirrel [ME squirel < OFr escuriuel < VL * scuriolus, dim. of * scurius, for L sciurus < Gr skiouros, squirrel < skia, shadow (see SHINE) + oura, tail: see URO 2] 1. any of a family (Sciuridae)… …   English World dictionary

  • Squirrel — (engl.: Hörnchen) bezeichnet: den SQuirreL SQL Client die Programmiersprache Squirrel (Programmiersprache) Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • squirrel — ► NOUN ▪ an agile tree dwelling rodent with a bushy tail, typically feeding on nuts and seeds. ► VERB (squirrelled, squirrelling; US also squirreled, squirreling) 1) (squirrel away) hide (money or valuables) in a safe place. 2) …   English terms dictionary

  • Squirrel — Taxobox name = Squirrel image width = 250px image caption = Eastern Gray Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Mammalia ordo = Rodentia familia = Sciuridae subdivision ranks = Genera subdivision = Many, see… …   Wikipedia

  • squirrel — squirrelish, squirrellike, adj. /skwerr euhl, skwur / or, esp. Brit., /skwir euhl/, n., pl. squirrels, (esp. collectively) squirrel, v., squirreled, squirreling or (esp. Brit.) squirrelled, squirrelling. n. 1. any of numerous arboreal, bushy… …   Universalium

  • squirrel — n. & v. n. 1 any rodent of the family Sciuridae, e.g. the red squirrel, grey squirrel, etc., often of arboreal habits, with a bushy tail arching over its back, and pointed ears. 2 the fur of this animal. 3 a person who hoards objects, food, etc.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • squirrel — I. noun (plural squirrels; also squirrel) Etymology: Middle English squirel, from Anglo French escurel, esquirel, from Vulgar Latin *scuriolus, diminutive of scurius, alteration of Latin sciurus, from Greek skiouros, probably from skia shadow +… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Squirrel — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Squirrel peut faire référence à : Squirrel (langage de programmation), un langage de programmation orienté objet Squirrel (beurre de cacahuètes), une …   Wikipédia en Français

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