Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Squirrel |
SquirrelNoun1. A kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail. 2. The fur of a squirrel. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "squirrel" was first used: 1327. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Dream Interpretation | To dream of seeing squirrels, denotes that pleasant friends will soon visit you. You will see advancement in your business also. To kill a squirrel, denotes that you will be unfriendly and disliked. To pet one, signifies family joy. To see a dog chasing one, foretells disagreements and unpleasantness among friends. Source: Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted .... |
Slang | Noun. Source: Biker Group. Definition: A guy who can't ride a straight line in a pack. Context: Describing the Faux pas of a fellow rider. Social Source: Road Bike Racers. Source: Compiled by The University of Oregon. (additional references) |
Slang in 1811 | SQUIRREL. A prostitute: because she like that animal, covers her back with her tail. Meretrix corpore corpus alit. Menagiana, ii. 128. Source: 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Squirrel
Eastern Grey Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensisScientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae Squirrel is the common name for rodents of the family Sciuridae. In everyday speech in the English-speaking world it usually refers to members of the genera Sciurus and Tamasciurus. These typical members of the family are tree squirrels with large bushy tails, and are native to Europe, Asia and the Americas. Similar genera are found in Africa. However, the Sciuridae also include flying squirrels, and ground squirrels such as the chipmunks, prairie dogs, and woodchuck. The unrelated family Anomaluridae also have "squirrel" in their common name, though they are usually referred to as "scaly-tailed flying squirrels".
Typical squirrels include the fox squirrel Sciurus niger, the Eastern gray squirrel S. carolinensis, and the American and European red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus and S. vulgaris)
One well-known trait of some species of squirrel is the gathering and storing of nuts for the winter. These squirrels are scatter-hoarders, i.e. they will gather nuts and store them in any accessible hiding place, usually by burying them. Recent research shows that they have excellent memories for the locations of these caches.
Squirrels are generally clever and persistent animals; in residential neighborhoods they are notorious for eating out of bird feeders, digging in potted plants either to bury or recover food, and for setting up house in sheltered areas including attics.
Squirrels are sometimes also pests because they chew on various edible and inedible objects; the habit helps keep the squirrel's teeth sharp and also wears the teeth down (rodents' teeth grow constantly).
Many companies sell bird feeders which are supposedly "squirrel-proof"; most of them in fact are not.
Homeowners in areas with a heavy squirrel population must keep attics and basements carefully sealed to prevent property damage caused by nesting squirrels.
Fake owls and scarecrows are generally ignored by the animals, and the best way to prevent chewing on an object is to coat it with something to make it undesirable: for instance a soft cloth or hot sauce.
Squirrels can be trained to be hand fed. Because they are able to cache surplus food, they will take as much food as you put out. If a person starts to feed one, that squirrel will come back day after day to get its food. This is not recommended, however, because squirrels are wild and not vaccinated, therefore, they may carry rabies or some other animal-borne diseases.
The red squirrel population in Britain has declined in recent decades, because of habitat loss and competition from gray squirrels. Recent conservation efforts include preserving and planting the conifer forests that red squirrels prefer.
Eurasian Red Squirrel, Sciurus vulgarisFor translations in other languages see: Wiktionary entry on squirrel
Popular culture references
Squirrels are popular characters in cartoons and children's books. A less typical fictional squirrel is Secret Squirrel.
External Links
- Save the Red Squirrel: http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/durham/RedAlert/
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Squirrel."
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Activity | Nimble, nimble as a squirrel; agile; light-footed, nimble-footed; featly, tripping. |
Velocity | Eagle, antelope, courser, race horse, gazelle, greyhound, hare, doe, squirrel, camel bird, chickaree, chipmunk, hackee, ostrich, scorcher. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | I was talking to that squirrel. (Mr. Deeds; writing credit: Clarence Budington Kell; Robert Riskin) We should've bought a squirrel, but we didn't buy a squirrel (Rat Race; writing credit: Andy Breckman) The harmless squirrel and the friendly rabbit (Caddyshack; writing credit: Brian Doyle-Murray; Harold Ramis) That is the last time we take directions from a squirrel! (The Emperor's New Groove; writing credit: Chris Williams; Mark Dindal) How was I supposed to know you can't keep a squirrel in your locked (Malcolm in the Middle; writing credit: Daniel Frenette) | |
Lyrics | In a squirrel or two, (Poisoning Pigeons In The Park; performing artist: Tom Lehrer) | |
Movie/TV Titles | The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show (1967) Squirrel Crazy (1957) Sleepy-Time Squirrel (1954) The Flying Squirrel (1954) Screwball Squirrel (1944) | |
Song Titles | Hell (performing artist: Squirrel Nut Zippers) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
Books | |||
Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
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High Tech |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Ground Squirrels like this Spotted Ground Squirrel, S. spilosoma, have been involved in plague epizootics. Credit: CDC. |  | Thrassis bacci, a ground squirrel flea found inhabiting the United States, is one of the primary rodent flea vectors of plague to humans. Note the food mass in the stomach and esophagus. Credit: CDC. |
 | A siksikpuk (an Arctic ground squirrel). Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth. |  | Plate 62. The Common Hake. Phycis chuss (Walb.), Gill. The Squirrel or White Hake. Physcis tenuis (Mitchell), De Kay. Credit: National Marine Fisheries Historical Image Collection. |
 | Vase sponge and squirrel fish off NURC station in Bahamas. Credit: National Undersea Research Program (NURP). |  | Nested pipes, one within another, provide more secure habitat for these three species of black trigger fish, Melichthys vidua, spiny puffer, Diodon hystrix, and squirrel fish, Myripristis sp. yellow tang surgeon fish, Zebrasoma flavescens. This type of. Credit: The Coral Kingdom. |
 | Mixed school of squirrel fish, Myripristis sp. and Holocentrus sp., in crevice between two pipes. Credit: The Coral Kingdom. |  | Long shot of squirrel. Credit: John Craig. |
 | Feeds a friendly squirrel on the Capitol Grounds, Washington, D.C., in late 1918. Credit: NAVY. |  | Elizabeth Gale house (Buck Hill Falls, Pa.). Wrought iron sign with "Hi-Wold," squirrel, and initials "EAG". Credit: Library of Congress. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |  |
| "Squirrel 1" by Alex T Commentary: "Shots of a squirrel in Central Park." | "Squirrel" by Margus Kyttä Commentary: "Same squirrel a moment later." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. | |
| Title | Author | Quote |
Grapes of Wrath | Steinbeck, John | His bony hand dug its way like a squirrel into his overall pocket, brought out a black, bitten plug of tobacco |
Gulliver's Travels | Swift, Jonathan | They climbed high trees, as nimbly as a squirrel, for they had strong extended claws before and behind, terminating in sharp points, and hooked |
Walden | Thoreau, Henry David | The squirrel tribe tried the same and succeeded |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | For the Pacific states, the California ground squirrel and its fleas are the most common source. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Squirrel" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 95.26% of the time. "Squirrel" is used about 211 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 95.26% | 201 | 21,536 |
| Noun (proper) | 4.74% | 10 | 111,207 |
| Total | 100.00% | 211 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expressions using "squirrel": american flying squirrel ♦ american red squirrel ♦ antelope squirrel ♦ arctic ground squirrel ♦ asiatic flying squirrel ♦ Barking squirrel ♦ black squirrel ♦ cat squirrel ♦ Chipping squirrel ♦ Douglas squirrel ♦ eastern fox squirrel ♦ eastern gray squirrel ♦ Federation squirrel ♦ flying squirrel ♦ fox squirrel ♦ grey squirrel ♦ ground squirrel ♦ Java squirrel ♦ mantled ground squirrel ♦ Marmot squirrel ♦ northern flying squirrel ♦ parka squirrel ♦ plantain squirrel ♦ prairie squirrel ♦ red squirrel ♦ Richardson ground squirrel ♦ rock squirrel ♦ southern flying squirrel ♦ spruce squirrel ♦ squirrel away ♦ squirrel cage ♦ squirrel corn ♦ squirrel cup ♦ squirrel cups ♦ squirrel fish ♦ squirrel fur ♦ squirrel grass ♦ squirrel hake ♦ squirrel hawk ♦ Squirrel Hill ♦ Squirrel Island ♦ squirrel monkey ♦ squirrel petaurus ♦ squirrel shrew ♦ striped prairie squirrel ♦ striped squirrel ♦ sugar squirrel ♦ tree squirrel ♦ western gray squirrel ♦ whitetail antelope squirrel. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "squirrel": squirrel-eyes, squirrel-like, squirrel-proof, squirrel-sized, squirrel-tail, Squirrel-tail grass. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
squirrel | 3,599 | squirrel repellent | 53 |
squirrel feeder | 1,720 | central dog squirrel | 51 |
flying squirrel | 410 | cartoon squirrel | 50 |
squirrel stuffed | 287 | squirrel food | 46 |
squirrel picture | 221 | get rid of squirrel | 44 |
squirrel proof bird feeder | 188 | squirrel photo | 43 |
ground squirrel | 182 | squirrel repellant | 43 |
squirrel nut zippers | 179 | baby squirrel | 42 |
squirrel monkey | 147 | foamy squirrel | 41 |
red squirrel | 95 | house plan squirrel | 41 |
squirrel hunting | 89 | squirrel pic | 40 |
squirrel trap | 75 | pet squirrel | 38 |
secret squirrel | 74 | squirrel nut | 37 |
fox squirrel | 72 | southern flying squirrel | 35 |
gray squirrel | 68 | monkey sale squirrel | 34 |
dog squirrel | 65 | squirrel cage fan | 33 |
black squirrel | 61 | the white squirrel | 33 |
frugal squirrel | 61 | grey squirrel | 32 |
mail squirrel | 60 | dancing squirrel | 31 |
squirrel control | 57 | funny picture squirrel | 31 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "squirrel"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Afrikaans | eekhorinkie, eekhoring. (various references) | |
Albanian | ketri, ketër. (various references) | |
Arabic | فرو السنجاب, سنجاب (bunny). (various references) | |
Basque | katagorri. (various references) | |
Blackfoot | miiyáttsi'kayi. (various references) | |
Bulgarian | катерица. (various references) | |
Chinese | 灰鼠, 松鼠 . (various references) | |
Czech | veverka (chickaree). (various references) | |
Danish | egern (squirrels). (various references) | |
Dutch | eekhoorn. (various references) | |
Esperanto | sciuro. (various references) | |
Faeroese | íkorni. (various references) | |
Finnish | orava. (various references) | |
French | écureuil. (various references) | |
Frisian | iikhoarn. (various references) | |
German | Eichhörnchen (squirrels). (various references) | |
Greek | σκίουρος. (various references) | |
Hebrew | סנאי. (various references) | |
Hungarian | mókus (bun, chappie, chappy, chipmunk). (various references) | |
Indonesian | tupai, bajing (chipmunk). (various references) | |
Irish | iora. (various references) | |
Italian | scoiattolo. (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | リサジューの図形 (fracture, Lissajous's figure, list, list broker, listing, lithograph, lizard, lizardman, lysine, reconstruction, reject, reserve, restart, restore, restructure, restructuring, result, resurrection, RISC, risk, risk control, risk factor, risk finance, wrist, wristband), 木鼠 , 栗鼠 . (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | リス (fracture, lithograph), きねずみ, りす. (various references) | |
Korean | 다람쥐. (various references) | |
Malay | bajing. (various references) | |
Manx | roddan biljagh. (various references) | |
Maya | ku'uk. (various references) | |
Occitan | esquiròl. (various references) | |
Papago | chehkul. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | irrelsquay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | esquilo. (various references) | |
Romanian | veveriţã. (various references) | |
Russian | белка. (various references) | |
Scottish | feòrag (a squirrel). (various references) | |
Sepedi | sehlora. (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | vrsta zapadnoindijske crvene ribe, veverica, veveričije krzno. (various references) | |
Shona | shindi. (various references) | |
Sicilian | scoiattulu. (various references) | |
Spanish | ardilla. (various references) | |
Sranan | bonboni. (various references) | |
Swazi | bu-shígwane. (various references) | |
Swedish | ekorre. (various references) | |
Turkish | sincap (gopher), síncap. (various references) | |
Turkmen | belka. (various references) | |
Ukrainian | білка. (various references) | |
Vietnamese | cá sơn rằn (squirrel-fish). (various references) | |
Welsh | gwiwer. (various references) | |
Yucatec | ku'uk. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Greek | 700 BCE-300 CE | skiouros. (various references) |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | sciurus, Sciurus vulgaria. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "squirrel": squirreled, squirreling, squirrelled, squirrelling, squirrelly, squirrels. (additional references) | |
| |
"Squirrel" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Esquirla, skirrel, Skirrow, sqirrel, squarel, squariel, squarrel, squerrel, squiral, squirel, squirell, squiren, squirl, squirle, squirral, squirrely, squirriel, squirril, squirrle, squrrel. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "squirrel" (pronounced skwer"ul) |
| 3 | -er" u l | deferral, epidural, referral. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "e-i-l-q-r-r-s-u" | |
-1 letter: surlier. | |
-2 letters: lurers, quires, risque, rulers, rulier, squire. | |
-3 letters: ileus, liers, lieus, lurer, lures, quire, riels, riles, riser, ruers, ruler, rules, sieur, slier, surer. | |
-4 letters: errs, ires, isle, leis, lier, lies, lieu, lire, lues, lure, reis, riel, rile, rise, ruer, rues, rule, ruse, sire, slue, slur, suer, sure, user. | |
-5 letters: els, err, ers, ire, lei. | |
| Words containing the letters "e-i-l-q-r-r-s-u" | |
+1 letter: squirrels. | |
+2 letters: squirreled, squirrelly. | |
+3 letters: quarterlies, reliquaries, squirreling, squirrelled. | |
+4 letters: squirrelling. | |
+5 letters: equilibrators, quarterfinals, tranquilizers. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Crosswords 3. Usage: Modern 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Images: Slideshow 6. Images: Photo Album 7. Images: Digital Art 8. Quotations: Fiction | 9. Quotations: Non-fiction 10. Usage Frequency 11. Expressions 12. Expressions: Internet | 13. Translations: Modern 14. Translations: Ancient 15. Derivations 16. Rhymes | 17. Anagrams 18. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
