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)

1. A squirrel (rodent of the family Sciuridae)
2. 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 17 June 2018.