squirel
Middle English
Alternative forms
- squyrelle, squerel, scurelle, squerell, scurelle, squyrell
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman esquirel, from Old French esquireul, from Vulgar Latin *scūriolus, a diminutive of Latin sciurus. Attested as a surname from the end of the 12th century and as the name of an animal from the early 14th century.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈskwirəl(ə)/, /ˈskwɛrəl(ə)/
Noun
squirel (plural squireles)
- A squirrel (rodent of the family Sciuridae)
- A squirrel fur or hide.
Synonyms
- acquerne
Descendants
- English: squirrel
- Scots: squirrel
References
- “squirel, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-06-17.