squirrel

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
squirrel/ˈskwɪrəl/

▶noun an agile tree-dwelling rodent with a bushy tail, typically feeding on nuts and seeds. [Sciurus and other genera: numerous species.]

■ used in names of other rodents of the same family (Sciuridae), e.g. ground squirrel.

▶verb (squirrels, squirrelling, squirrelled; US squirrels, squirreling, squirreled)

• 1 (squirrel something away) hide money or valuables in a safe place.

• 2 move about inquisitively or busily.

– origin ME: shortening of OFr. esquireul, from a dimin. of L. sciurus, from Gk skiouros, from skia ‘shade’ + oura ‘tail’.