noun pl. squirrels -·rels or squirrel -·rel

1. any of a family (Sciuridae) of small rodents living in trees, on the ground, or in burrows and usually having a long, bushy tail, including flying squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots; esp., a tree squirrel
2. the fur of some of these animals

Etymology: ME squirel < OFr escuriuel < VL *scuriolus, dim. of *scurius, for L sciurus < Gr skiouros, squirrel < skia, shadow (see shine) + oura, tail: see uro-

transitive verb squirreled -·reled or squirrelled -·relled, squirreling -·rel·ing or squirrelling -·rel·ling

Etymology: from the fact that squirrels store up nuts and seeds for the winter