Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Squirrel \Squir"rel\ (skw[~e]r"r[~e]l or skw[i^]r"-; 277), n.
   [OE. squirel, OF. esquirel, escurel, F. ['e]cureuil, LL.
   squirelus, squirolus, scuriolus, dim. of L. sciurus, Gr.
   si`oyros; skia` shade + o'yra` tail. Cf. {Shine}, v. i.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents
      belonging to the genus {Sciurus} and several allied genera
      of the family {Sciurid[ae]}. 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} (Zo["o]l.), the prairie dog.

   {Federation squirrel} (Zo["o]l.), the striped gopher. See
      {Gopher}, 2.

   {Flying squirrel} (Zo["o]l.). See {Flying squirrel}, in the
      Vocabulary.

   {Java squirrel} (Zo["o]l.). 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} (Zo["o]l.)
      (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} (Zo["o]l.), a common American hake ({Phycis
      tenuis}); -- called also {white hake}.

   {Squirrel hawk} (Zo["o]l.), any rough-legged hawk;
      especially, the California species {Archibuteo
      ferrugineus}.

   {Squirrel monkey}. (Zo["o]l.)
      (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} (Zo["o]l.), a flying phalanger of
      Australia. See {Phalanger}, {Petaurist}, and {Flying
      phalanger} under {Flying}.

   {Squirrel shrew} (Zo["o]l.), 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.



   {Flying army} (Mil.) a body of cavalry and infantry, kept in
      motion, to cover its own garrisons and to keep the enemy
      in continual alarm. --Farrow. 

   {Flying artillery} (Mil.), artillery trained to rapid
      evolutions, -- the men being either mounted or trained to
      spring upon the guns and caissons when they change
      position.

   {Flying bridge}, {Flying camp}. See under {Bridge}, and
      {Camp}.

   {Flying buttress} (Arch.), a contrivance for taking up the
      thrust of a roof or vault which can not be supported by
      ordinary buttresses. It consists of a straight bar of
      masonry, usually sloping, carried on an arch, and a solid
      pier or buttress sufficient to receive the thrust. The
      word is generally applied only to the straight bar with
      supporting arch.

   {Flying colors}, flags unfurled and waving in the air; hence:

   {To come off with flying colors}, to be victorious; to
      succeed thoroughly in an undertaking.

   {Flying doe} (Zo["o]l.), a young female kangaroo.

   {Flying dragon}.
   (a) (Zo["o]l.) See {Dragon}, 6.
   (b) A meteor. See under {Dragon}.

   {Flying Dutchman}.
   (a) A fabled Dutch mariner condemned for his crimes to sail
       the seas till the day of judgment.
   (b) A spectral ship.

   {Flying fish}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Flying fish}, in the
      Vocabulary.

   {Flying fox} (Zo["o]l.), the colugo.

   {Flying frog} (Zo["o]l.), an East Indian tree frog of the
      genus {Rhacophorus}, having very large and broadly webbed
      feet, which serve as parachutes, and enable it to make
      very long leaps.

   {Flying gurnard} (Zo["o]l.), a species of gurnard of the
      genus {Cephalacanthus} or {Dactylopterus}, with very large
      pectoral fins, said to be able to fly like the flying
      fish, but not for so great a distance.

   Note: Three species are known; that of the Atlantic is
         {Cephalacanthus volitans}.

   {Flying jib} (Naut.), a sail extended outside of the standing
      jib, on the flying-jib boom.

   {Flying-jib boom} (Naut.), an extension of the jib boom.

   {Flying kites} (Naut.), light sails carried only in fine
      weather.

   {Flying lemur}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Colugo}.

   {Flying level} (Civil Engin.), a reconnoissance level over
      the course of a projected road, canal, etc.

   {Flying lizard}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Dragon}, n. 6.

   {Flying machine}, an apparatus for navigating the air; a form
      of balloon. -- {Flying mouse} (Zo["o]l.), the opossum
      mouse ({Acrobates pygm[ae]us}), of Australia.

   Note: It has lateral folds of skin, like the flying
         squirrels. -- {Flying party} (Mil.), a body of soldiers
      detailed to hover about an enemy. -- {Flying phalanger}
      (Zo["o]l.), one of several species of small marsuupials of
      the genera {Petaurus} and {Belideus}, of Australia and New
      Guinea, having lateral folds like those of the flying
      squirrels. The sugar squirrel ({B. sciureus}), and the
      ariel ({B. ariel}), are the best known; -- called also
      {squirrel petaurus} and {flying squirrel}. See {Sugar
      squirrel}. -- {Flying pinion}, the fly of a clock. --
   {Flying sap} (Mil.), the rapid construction of trenches (when
      the enemy's fire of case shot precludes the method of
      simple trenching), by means of gabions placed in
      juxtaposition and filled with earth. -- {Flying shot}, a
      shot fired at a moving object, as a bird on the wing. --
   {Flying spider}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Ballooning spider}. --
   {Flying squid} (Zo["o]l.), an oceanic squid ({Ommastrephes,
      or Sthenoteuthis, Bartramii}), abundant in the Gulf
      Stream, which is able to leap out of the water with such
      force that it often falls on the deck of a vessel. --
   {Flying squirrel} (Zo["o]l.) See {Flying squirrel}, in the
      Vocabulary. -- {Flying start}, a start in a sailing race
      in which the signal is given while the vessels are under
      way. -- {Flying torch} (Mil.), a torch attached to a long
      staff and used for signaling at night.

Flying squirrel \Fly"ing squir"rel\ (? or ?). (Zo["o]l.)
   One of a group of squirrels, of the genera {Pteromus} and
   {Sciuropterus}, having parachute-like folds of skin extending
   from the fore to the hind legs, which enable them to make
   very long leaps.

   Note: The species of Pteromys are large, with bushy tails,
         and inhabit southern Asia and the East Indies; those of
         Sciuropterus are smaller, with flat tails, and inhabit
         the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. The
         American species {(Sciuropterus volucella)} is also
         called Assapan. The Australian flying squrrels, or
         flying phalangers, are marsupials. See {Flying
         phalanger} (above).

Source : WordNet®

flying squirrel
     n : nocturnal phalangers that move with gliding leaps using
         parachute-like folds of skin along the sides of the body
         [syn: {flying phalanger}, {flying opossum}]