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.
--v. (squirrelled, squirrelling; US squirreled, squirreling)
1. tr. (often foll. by away) hoard (objects, food, time, etc.) (squirrelled it away in the cupboard).
2 intr. (often foll. by around) bustle about.
Phrases and idioms:
squirrel cage
1. a small cage containing a revolving cylinder like a treadmill, on which a captive squirrel may exercise.
2 a form of rotor used in small electric motors, resembling the cylinder of a squirrel cage.
3 a monotonous or repetitive way of life. squirrel (or squirrel-tail) grass a grass, Hordeum jubatum, with bushy spikelets. squirrel-monkey a small yellow-haired monkey, Saimiri sciureus, native to S. America.
Etymology: ME f. AF esquirel, OF esquireul, ult. f. L sciurus f. Gk skiouros f. skia shade + oura tail