Squirrel
WordNet
noun
(1) A kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail
(2) The fur of a squirrel
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From esquirel, from escurel (modern ), from scuriolus, diminutive of scurius, variant of , from < + .
Noun
- Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae distinguished by their large bushy tail.
Verb
- with "away": To hoard in a hidden place, by analogy to squirrels' habit of hoarding nuts.
- with "around": To move or search erratically, especially as if hurried or confused.
- My mother warned me not to squirrel around in my dad's workshop.
Usage notes
The participles with a double 'l' (squirrelling and squirrelled) are less common, but supported by the OED for UK usage.