Definition of SQUIRREL

squirrel

Plural: squirrels

Noun

  • a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
  • the fur of a squirrel
  • Any rodent of the family Sciuridae, distinguished typically by a large bushy tail.
  • Someone who displays squirrel-like qualities such as stealing or hoarding objects.
  • One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work with the large cylinder.
  • A person, usually a freezoner, who applies L. Ron Hubbard's technology in a heterodox manner.

Verb

Verb Forms: squirreled, squirrelled, squirreling, squirrelling, squirrels

  • To store or hoard something, especially for future use.
  • To store in a secretive manner, to hide something for future use

Examples

  • Savvy Scrabble players SQUIRREL away their high-value tiles for a bingo opportunity.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English squirel, squyrelle, from Anglo-Norman esquirel and Old French escurel (whence French écureuil), from Vulgar Latin *scūriolus, diminutive of *scūrius, variant of Latin sciūrus, from Ancient Greek σκίουρος (skíouros, “shadow-tail”, from σκιά (skiá, “shadow”) + οὐρά (ourá, “tail”)).
Displaced native Middle English acquerne, aquerne, from Old English ācweorna.

Synonyms

sciurid, scug

Scrabble Score: 17

squirrel: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
squirrel: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
squirrel: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

squirrel: valid Words With Friends Word