— 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-tailed rodents of the genus Sciurus, of the family Sciuridae.
2. any of various other members of the family Sciuridae, as the chipmunks, flying squirrels, and woodchucks.
3. the meat of such an animal.
4. the pelt or fur of such an animal: a coat trimmed with squirrel.
v.t.
5. to store or hide (money, valuables, etc.), usually for the future (often fol. by away ): I've squirreled away a few dollars for an emergency.
[ 1325-75; ME squirel escuirel (OF escuireul ) scurellus, * scuriolus, repr. L sciurus ( skíouros lit., shadow-tailed ( ski ( á ) shadow + -ouros, adj. deriv. of ourá tail); appar. so called because the tail was large enough to provide shade for the rest of the animal) with dim. suffixes - ellus, -olus ]