n.
Pronunciation: ' skw ə r(- ə )l, ' skw ə -r ə l, chiefly Brit ' skwir- ə l
Function: noun
Inflected Form: 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 + oura tail ― more at SHINE , ASS
Date: 14th century
1 : any of various small or medium-sized rodents (family Sciuridae, the squirrel family): as a : any of numerous New or Old World arboreal forms having a long bushy tail and strong hind legs b : GROUND SQUIRREL
2 : the fur of a squirrel