Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - squirrel

n. & v. --n. 1 any rodent of the family Sciuridae, e.g. the red squirrel, grey squirrel, etc., often of arboreal habits, with a bushy tail arching over its back, and pointed ears. 2 the fur of this animal. 3 a person who hoards objects, food, etc. --v. (squirrelled, squirrelling; US squirreled, squirreling) 1 tr. (often foll. by away) hoard (objects, food, time, etc.) (squirrelled it away in the cupboard). 2 intr. (often foll. by around) bustle about. Phrases and idioms squirrel cage 1 a small cage containing a revolving cylinder like a treadmill, on which a captive squirrel may exercise. 2 a form of rotor used in small electric motors, resembling the cylinder of a squirrel cage. 3 a monotonous or repetitive way of life. squirrel (or squirrel-tail) grass a grass, Hordeum jubatum, with bushy spikelets. squirrel-monkey a small yellow-haired monkey, Saimiri sciureus, native to S. America. Etymology: ME f. AF esquirel, OF esquireul, ult. f. L sciurus f. Gk skiouros f. skia shade + oura tail