The Wordsmith Dictionary

Squir "rel ( or; 277 ), n. Etym: [OE. squirel, OF. esquirel, escurel,F. écureuil, LL. squirelus, squirolus, scuriolus, dim. of L. sciurus, Gr. si `oyros; skia ` shade + o'yra ` tail. Cf. Shine, v. i.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus Sciurus and several allied genera of the famly Sciuridæ. Squirrels generally have a bushy tail, large erect ears, and strong hind legs. They are commonly arboreal in their habits, but many species live in burrows.

Note: Among the common North American squirrels are the gray squirrel (Scirius Carolinensis ) and its black variety; the fox, or cat, sqirrel (S. cinereus, or S. niger ) which is a large species, and variable in color, the southern variety being frequently black, while the northern and western varieties are usually gray or rusty brown; the red squirrel (see Chickaree ); the striped, or chipping, squirrel (see Chipmunk ); and the California gray squirrel (S. fossor ). Several other species inhabit Mexico and Central America. The common European species (Sciurus vulgaris ) has a long tuft of hair on each ear. the so-called Australian squirrels are marsupials. See Petaurist, and Phalanger.

2. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work with the large cylinder. Barking squirrel (Zoöl.), the prairie dog. -- Federation squirrel (Zoöl.), the striped gopher. See Gopher, 2. -- Flying squirrel (Zoöl.). See Flying squirrel, in the Vocabulary. -- Java squirrel (Zoöl.). See Jelerang. -- Squirrel corn (Bot. ), a North American herb (Dicantra Canadensis ) bearing little yellow tubers. -- Squirrel cup (Bot. ), the blossom of the Hepatica triloba, a low perennial herb with cup-shaped flowers varying from purplish blue to pink or even white. It is one of the earliest flowers of spring. -- Squirrel fish (Zoöl.) (a ) A sea bass (Serranus fascicularis ) of the Southern United States. (b ) The sailor's choice (Diplodus rhomboides ). (c ) The redmouth, or grunt. (d ) A market fish of Bermuda (Holocentrum Ascensione ). -- Squirrel grass (Bot. ), a pestiferous grass (Hordeum murinum ) related to barley. In California the stiffly awned spiklets work into the wool of sheep, and into the throat, flesh, and eyes of animals, sometimes even producing death. -- Squirrel hake (Zoöl.), a common American hake (Phycis tenuis ); -- called also white hake. -- Squirrel hawk (Zoöl.), any rough-legged hawk; especially, the California species Archibuteo ferrugineus. -- Squirrel monkey. (Zoöl.) (a ) Any one of several species of small, soft-haired South American monkeys of the genus Calithrix. They are noted for their graceful form and agility. See Teetee. (b ) A marmoset. -- Squirrel petaurus (Zoöl.), a flying phalanger of Australia. See Phalanger, Petaurist, and Flying phalanger under Flying. -- Squirrel shrew (Zoöl.), any one of several species of East Indian and Asiatic insectivores of the genus Tupaia. They are allied to the shrews, but have a bushy tail, like that of a squirrel. -- Squirrel-tail grass (Bot. ), a grass (Hordeum jubatum ) found in salt marshes and along the Great Lakes, having a dense spike beset with long awns.

SQUIRT

Squirt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Squirted; p. pr. & vb. n. Squirting.]Etym: [Cf. LG. swirtjen to squirt, OSw. sqvätta, E. squander. ]

Defn: To drive or eject in a stream out of a narrow pipe or orifice; as, to squirt water. The hard-featured miscreant coolly rolled his tobacco in his cheek, and squirted the juice into the fire grate. Sir W. Scott. Squirting cucumber. (Bot. ) See Ecballium.

SQUIRT

SQUIRT Squirt, v. i.

1. To be thrown out, or ejected, in a rapid stream, from a narrow orifice; -- said of liquids.

2. Hence, to throw out or utter words rapidly; to prate. [Low ] L'Estrange.

SQUIRT

SQUIRT Squirt, n.

1. An instrument out of which a liquid is ejected in a small stream with force. Young.

2. A small, quick stream; a jet. Bacon.

SQUIRTER

SQUIRTER Squirt "er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, squirts.

SQUIRY

Squir "y, n. Etym: [See Squiery.]

Defn: The body of squires, collectively considered; squirarchy. [Obs. ] The flower of chivalry and squiry. Ld. Berbers.

New American Oxford Dictionary

squire

squire |skwīr ˈskwaɪ (ə )r | ▶noun 1 a man of high social standing who owns and lives on an estate in a rural area, esp. the chief landowner in such an area: the squire of Radbourne Hall | [ as title ] : Squire Hughes. • Brit. informal used by a man as a friendly or humorous form of address to another man. • archaic a title given to a magistrate, lawyer, or judge in some rural districts. 2 historical a young nobleman acting as an attendant to a knight before becoming a knight himself. ▶verb [ with obj. ] (of a man ) accompany or escort (a woman ): she was squired around Rome by a reporter. • dated (of a man ) have a romantic relationship with (a woman ). DERIVATIVES squire dom |-dəm |noun, squire ship |-ˌSHip |noun ORIGIN Middle English ( sense 2 of the noun ): shortening of Old French esquier ‘esquire. ’

squirearch

squire arch |ˈskwīrärk ˈskwaɪərɑrk | ▶noun a member of the squirearchy. DERIVATIVES squire ar chi cal |ˌskwīˈrärkikəl |adjective ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: back-formation from squirearchy, on the pattern of words such as monarch .

squirearchy

squire ar chy |ˈskwīrärkē ˈskwaɪ (ə )ˌrɑrki | ▶noun ( pl. squirearchies ) landowners collectively, esp. when considered as a class having political or social influence. ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from squire, on the pattern of words such as hierarchy .

squireen

squireen |ˌskwʌɪəˈriːn | ▶noun Brit. a minor landowner, especially one in Ireland. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from squire + -een (representing the Irish diminutive suffix -ín ).

squirl

squirl |skwərl skwərl | ▶noun informal an ornamental flourish or curve, esp. in handwriting. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: perhaps a blend of squiggle and twirl or whirl .

squirm

squirm |skwərm skwərm | ▶verb [ no obj. ] wriggle or twist the body from side to side, esp. as a result of nervousness or discomfort: all my efforts to squirm out of his grasp were useless. • show or feel embarrassment or shame. ▶noun [ in sing. ] a wriggling movement. DERIVATIVES squirm er noun, squirm y adjective ORIGIN late 17th cent.: symbolic of writhing movement; probably associated with worm .

squirrel

squir rel |ˈskwər (ə )l ˈskwər (ə )l | ▶noun an agile tree-dwelling rodent with a bushy tail, typically feeding on nuts and seeds. [Family Sciuridae: several genera, in particular Sciurus, and numerous species. ] • a related rodent of this family. See ground squirrel, flying squirrel. • the fur of the squirrel. ▶verb ( squirrels, squirreling, squirreled ) 1 [ with obj. ] (squirrel something away ) hide money or something of value in a safe place: the money was squirreled away in foreign bank accounts. 2 [ no obj. ] move in an inquisitive and restless manner: they were squirreling around in the woods in search of something. ORIGIN Middle English: shortening of Old French esquireul, from a diminutive of Latin sciurus, from Greek skiouros, from skia ‘shade ’ + oura ‘tail. ’ Current verb senses date from the early 20th cent.

squirrel cage

squir rel cage ▶noun a rotating cylindrical cage in which a small captive animal can exercise as on a treadmill. • a monotonous or repetitive activity or way of life: running madly about in a squirrel cage of activity. • a form of rotor used in small electric motors, resembling a cylindrical cage.

squirrelfish

squir rel fish |ˈskwərlˌfiSH ˈskwərlˌfɪʃ | ▶noun ( pl. same or squirrelfishes ) a chiefly nocturnal large-eyed marine fish that is typically brightly colored and lives around rocks or coral reefs in warm seas. [Family Holocentridae: several genera and species. ]

squirrelly

squir rel ly |ˈskwər (ə )lē ˈskwər (ə )li | ▶adjective 1 relating to or resembling a squirrel: the chipmunks were little squirrelly things. 2 informal restless, nervous, or unpredictable. • eccentric or insane.

squirrel monkey

squir rel mon key ▶noun a small South American monkey with a nonprehensile tail, typically moving through trees by leaping. [Genus Saimiri, family Cebidae: five species, in particular S. sciureus. ]

squirreltail

squir rel tail |ˈskwərlˌtāl ˈskwərlteɪl |(also squirreltail grass ) ▶noun a kind of barley with bushy spikelets, sometimes cultivated as an ornamental grass. [Hordeum jubatum, family Gramineae. ]

squirt

squirt |skwərt skwərt | ▶verb [ with obj. ] cause (a liquid ) to be ejected from a small opening in something in a thin, fast stream or jet: she squirted soda into a glass. • cause (a container of liquid ) to eject its contents in this way: some youngsters squirted a water pistol in her face. • wet (someone or something ) with a jet or stream of liquid in this way: she squirted me with the juice from her lemon wedge. • [ no obj. ] (of a liquid ) be ejected from something in this way. • [ no obj. ] (of an object ) move suddenly and unpredictably: he got his glove on the ball but it squirted away. • transmit (information ) in highly compressed or speeded-up form. ▶noun 1 a thin stream or small quantity of liquid ejected from something: a quick squirt of perfume. • a small device from which a liquid may be ejected in a thin, fast stream. • a compressed radio signal transmitted at high speed. 2 informal a person perceived to be insignificant, impudent, or presumptuous: what did he see in this patronizing little squirt? DERIVATIVES squirt er noun ORIGIN Middle English (first recorded as a verb ): imitative.

squirt boat

squirt boat ▶noun a small, highly maneuverable kayak.

squirt gun

squirt gun |ˈskwərt ˌɡən | ▶noun a water pistol.

squirting cucumber

squirting cu ¦cum |ber ▶noun a Mediterranean plant of the gourd family, bearing a small cucumber-like fruit which falls readily when ripe and forcibly expels an irritant pulp containing its seeds. ●Ecballium elaterium, family Cucurbitaceae.

Oxford Dictionary

squire

squire |skwʌɪə | ▶noun 1 a man of high social standing who owns and lives on an estate in a rural area, especially the chief landowner in such an area: the squire of Radbourne Hall | [ as title ] : Squire Trelawny. • Brit. informal used by a man as a friendly or humorous form of address to another man. • US archaic a title given to a magistrate, lawyer, or judge in some rural districts. 2 historical a young nobleman acting as an attendant to a knight before becoming a knight himself. 3 Austral. a subadult snapper fish (Chrysophrys auratus ). ▶verb [ with obj. ] (of a man ) accompany or escort (a woman ): she was squired around Rome by a reporter. • dated (of a man ) have a romantic relationship with (a woman ). DERIVATIVES squiredom noun, squireship noun ORIGIN Middle English (in sense 2 of the noun ): shortening of Old French esquier ‘esquire ’.

squirearch

squirearch |ˈskwʌɪəˌrɑːk | ▶noun a member of the squirearchy. DERIVATIVES squirearchical |-ˈrɑːkɪk (ə )l |adjective ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: back-formation from squirearchy, on the pattern of words such as monarch .

squirearchy

squirearchy |ˈskwʌɪəˌrɑːki | ▶noun ( pl. squirearchies ) landowners collectively, especially when considered as a class having political or social influence. ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from squire, on the pattern of words such as hierarchy .

squireen

squireen |ˌskwʌɪəˈriːn | ▶noun Brit. a minor landowner, especially one in Ireland. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from squire + -een (representing the Irish diminutive suffix -ín ).

squirl

squirl |skwəːl | ▶noun informal an ornamental flourish or curve, especially in handwriting. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: perhaps a blend of squiggle and twirl or whirl .

squirm

squirm |skwəːm | ▶verb [ no obj. ] wriggle or twist the body from side to side, especially as a result of nervousness or discomfort: he looked uncomfortable and squirmed in his chair. • show or feel embarrassment or shame: he squirmed as he recalled the phrases he had used. ▶noun [ in sing. ] a wriggling movement. DERIVATIVES squirmer noun, squirmy adjective ORIGIN late 17th cent.: symbolic of writhing movement; probably associated with worm .

squirrel

squir |rel |ˈskwɪr (ə )l | ▶noun an agile tree-dwelling rodent with a bushy tail, typically feeding on nuts and seeds. ●Family Sciuridae: several genera, in particular Sciurus, and numerous species. • a related rodent of the squirrel family. See ground squirrel, flying squirrel. • [ mass noun ] the fur of the squirrel. ▶verb ( squirrels, squirrelling, squirrelled; US squirrels, squirreling, squirreled ) 1 [ with obj. ] (squirrel something away ) hide money or something of value in a safe place: the money was squirrelled away in foreign bank accounts. 2 [ no obj., with adverbial of direction ] move in an inquisitive and restless manner: they were squirrelling around in the woods in search of something. ORIGIN Middle English: shortening of Old French esquireul, from a diminutive of Latin sciurus, from Greek skiouros, from skia ‘shade ’ + oura ‘tail ’. Current verb senses date from the early 20th cent.

squirrel cage

squir |rel cage ▶noun a rotating cylindrical cage in which a small captive animal can exercise as on a treadmill. • a monotonous or repetitive activity or way of life: running madly about in a squirrel cage of activity. • a form of rotor used in small electric motors, resembling a cylindrical cage.

squirrelfish

squir ¦rel |fish ▶noun ( pl. same or squirrelfishes ) a large-eyed, chiefly nocturnal marine fish that is typically brightly coloured and lives around rocks or coral reefs in warm seas. ●Family Holocentridae: several genera and species.

squirrelly

squir |rel ¦ly |ˈskwɪr (ə )li | ▶adjective 1 relating to or resembling a squirrel. 2 N. Amer. informal restless, nervous, or unpredictable: I got all squirrelly after you left. • eccentric or mad.

squirrel monkey

squir |rel mon ¦key ▶noun a small South American monkey with a non-prehensile tail, typically moving through trees by leaping. ●Genus Saimiri, family Cebidae: five species, in particular S. sciureus.

squirrel-tail grass

squirrel-tail grass ▶noun [ mass noun ] a kind of barley with bushy spikelets, sometimes cultivated as an ornamental grass. ●Hordeum jubatum, family Gramineae.

squirt

squirt |skwəːt | ▶verb [ with obj. and adverbial of direction ] 1 cause (a liquid ) to be ejected from a small opening in a thin, fast stream or jet: she squirted soda into a glass. • cause (a container of liquid ) to eject its contents in a thin, fast stream: some youngsters squirted a water pistol in her face. • [ with obj. ] wet with a jet or stream of liquid: she squirted me with scent. • [ no obj., with adverbial of direction ] (of a liquid ) be ejected from something in a thin, fast stream. • [ no obj., with adverbial of direction ] (of an object ) move suddenly and unpredictably: he got his glove on the ball but it squirted away. 2 transmit (information ) in highly compressed or speeded-up form. ▶noun 1 a thin stream or small quantity of liquid squirted from something: a squirt of perfume. • a small device from which a liquid may be squirted. 2 informal a puny or insignificant person: what did he see in this patronizing little squirt? 3 a compressed radio signal transmitted at high speed. DERIVATIVES squirter noun ORIGIN Middle English (as a verb ): imitative.

squirt boat

squirt boat ▶noun a small, highly manoeuvrable kayak.

squirt gun

squirt gun ▶noun N. Amer. a water pistol.

squirting cucumber

American Oxford Thesaurus

squire

squire noun 1 the squire of the village: landowner, landholder, landlord, lord of the manor, country gentleman. 2 historical his squire carried a banner: attendant, courtier, equerry, aide, steward, page boy.

squirm

squirm verb 1 I tried to squirm away: wriggle, wiggle, writhe, twist, slide, slither, turn, shift, fidget, jiggle, twitch, thresh, flounder, flail, toss and turn. 2 he squirmed as everyone laughed: wince, shudder, feel embarrassed, feel ashamed.

squirrel

squirrel verb PHRASES squirrel away my intention was to squirrel away this money for a new car: save, put aside, put by, lay by, set aside, lay aside, keep in reserve, stockpile, accumulate, stock up with /on, hoard; informal salt away, stash away. WORD NOTE sciurine Murine, porcine, feline, ursine … all perfectly nice. But the squirrel's nomenclature has a particular charm. From the Greek skiouros ( skia shadow + oura tail ), the description is not merely zoological, it is also poetic and descriptively sound. Also, the enjoyments that can be found nailing a human face to its animal double are multiplied with sciurine. Many men look porcine, and many women feline, so many that the description feels cloudy and general. However, a sciurine face is such a specific, singular, and fatal resemblance that the user may conjure up the entire physical character of a person with just this one word. — ZS Conversational, opinionated, and idiomatic, these Word Notes are an opportunity to see a working writer's perspective on a particular word or usage.

squirt

squirt verb 1 a jet of ink squirted out of the tube: spurt, shoot, spray, fountain, jet, erupt; gush, rush, pump, surge, stream, spew, well, spring, burst, issue, emanate; emit, belch forth, expel, eject. 2 she squirted me with cologne: splash, wet, spray, shower, spatter, splatter, sprinkle; literary besprinkle. ▶noun 1 a squirt of water: spurt, jet, spray, fountain, gush, stream, surge. 2 informal he was just a little squirt: impudent person, insignificant person, gnat, insect; informal pipsqueak, whippersnapper, picayune.

Oxford Thesaurus

squire

squire noun 1 a country squire: landowner, landholder, landlord, lord of the manor, country gentleman. 2 historical before him went his squire carrying a banner: attendant, courtier, equerry, aide, companion, steward, page boy, servant boy, serving boy, cup-bearer, train-bearer.

squirm

squirm verb I tried to squirm away | he squirmed as he recalled the phrases he had used: wriggle, wiggle, writhe, twist, slide, slither, turn, shift, fidget, jiggle, twitch, thresh, flounder, flail, toss and turn; agonize.

squirrel

squirrel verb PHRASES squirrel something away try to squirrel a little cash away for a rainy day: save, put aside, put by, lay by, set aside, lay aside, put to one side, reserve, keep in reserve, preserve, deposit, keep, store, stockpile, accumulate, collect, stock up with /on, heap up, hoard, stow away, cache, garner; informal salt away, stash away. WORD LINKS squirrel sciurine relating to squirrels drey home Word Links sections supply words that are related to the headword but do not normally appear in a thesaurus because they are not actual synonyms.

squirt

squirt verb 1 this mollusc can squirt a cloud of purple ink into the water | a jet of ink squirted out of the tube: spurt, shoot, spray, fountain, jet, erupt; gush, pour, stream, rush, pump, surge, spew; spill, flow, course, well, spring, burst, issue, emanate; disgorge, discharge, emit, belch forth, expel, eject; Brit. informal sloosh. 2 she squirted me with scent: splash, wet, spray, shower, spatter, bespatter, splatter, sprinkle; Scottish & Irish informal slabber; literary besprinkle. ▶noun 1 a squirt of water: spurt, jet, spray, fountain, gush, stream, surge, flow. 2 informal a little squirt called Ollie Bogwhistle sneaked on me: impudent person, insignificant person, gnat, insect; informal pipsqueak, twerp; Brit. informal nerd, johnny, squit, whippersnapper, git, plonker; Scottish informal nyaff; N. Amer. informal bozo, picayune, pisher, snip, smart mouth; archaic malapert, quean; archaic, informal dandiprat; N. Amer. vulgar slang pissant; (squirts ) small fry.

Duden Dictionary

Squire

Squi re Substantiv, maskulin , der |ˈskva͜iɐ englisch ˈskwaɪə |lateinisch-französisch -englisch englischer Gutsherr

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

squire

squire /skwaɪə r /名詞 C 1 ｟英｠地方地主, 郷士（ごうし）.2 (騎士の )従者, 付添い人 .3 ｟英話やや古｠〖呼びかけで; S- 〗だんな (さま ), お客さん (!相手の名前がわからない時, 親しみと敬意を込めて用いる ) .動詞他動詞〈女性〉を連れて行く [来る ].

squirm

squirm /skwəː r m /動詞自動詞 1 (不快感いらだちから )体をよじる [くねらせる ], もがく (wriggle ).2 «…から » どうにか逃れる «out of » ; くねりながら進む ▸ squirm out of the nightmare 悪夢から逃れる 3 «…に » 当惑する, «…を » 恥ずかしく思う, «…で » もじもじする «with » .名詞 C 〖単数形で〗のたくり, もがき ; もだえ .squ í rm y /-i /形容詞うごめく ; もじもじする .

squirrel

squir rel /skwə́ːr (ə )l |skwɪ́r -/〖語源は「尾で陰を作る動物」〗名詞複～s /-z /C リス ; U リスの毛皮 .動詞～s ; ～ed , ｟英｠～led ; ～ing , ｟英｠～ling 他動詞｟米｠〈食料金など〉を (せっせと )貯める [蓄える ], 隠す (away ).自動詞せわしなく動き回る .～ly 形容詞｟くだけて｠せかせかした, 落ち着きのない .

squirt

squirt /skwəː r t /動詞他動詞 1 «…から » 〈液体〉を噴出させる «from , out of » ; …を吹きかける ; «…に » 〈液体〉を注ぐ, 〈油など〉を差す «in , into » ▸ squirt some oil in the lock 錠に油を差す 2 «…で » 〈人物〉に (水などの液体を )かける [浴びせる, あてる ] «with » ▸ squirt A with the hose ホースでAに水をかける自動詞〈液体が〉 «…から » 吹き出る [出す ], ほとばしる «from » ▸ tears squirting from one's eyes 目からあふれ出る涙名詞 C 1 〖通例a ～〗噴出 (量 ), ほとばしり .2 ｟話｠〖(little ) ～〗生意気な子供 [若者 ], ちび, ガキ, 若造 ▸ He's just a little squirt .彼は単なる若造だ 3 噴射器 ; 注射器, 消火器, 水鉄砲 (squirt gun ).～́ b ò ttle (ケチャップなどの )絞って中身を出すプラスチック容器 .squ í rt er 名詞