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squirrel

Pronunciation: /ˈskwɪr(ə)l/

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Definition of squirrel

noun

an agile tree-dwelling rodent with a bushy tail, typically feeding on nuts and seeds.
- Family Sciuridae: several genera, in particular Sciurus, and numerous species
a related rodent of the squirrel family. See ground squirrel, flying squirrel.
[mass noun] the fur of the squirrel.

verb (squirrels, squirrelling, squirrelled; US squirrels, squirreling, squirreled)

1 [with object] (squirrel something away) hide money or something of value in a safe place:the money was squirrelled away in foreign bank accounts

2 [no object, with adverbial of direction] move in an inquisitive and restless manner:they were squirrelling around in the woods in search of something

Origin:

Middle English: shortening of Old French esquireul, from a diminutive of Latin sciurus, from Greek skiouros, from skia 'shade' + oura 'tail'. Current verb senses date from the early 20th century

Spelling rule

Double the l when adding endings which begin with a vowel to words which end in a vowel plus l (as in travel): (squirrels, squirrelling, squirrelled).

squirrel in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of squirrel in the US English dictionary

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