squirrel

Where does the word "squirrel" come from? It comes from Greek skiouros, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Squirrel’s story begins in Greek: skiouros meant “shadow-tail.” Greek 'skia', shadow, plus 'oura', tail: the animal shading itself with its tail. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as esquireul. Via Vulgar Latin 'scuriolus'. It reached English by 1300s as squirrel. Replaced Old English 'acweorna'. Today, squirrel means a bushy-tailed tree-dwelling rodent.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient skiouros "shadow-tail", Greek 'skia', shadow, plus 'oura', tail: the animal shading itself with its tail.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval esquireul "squirrel", via Vulgar Latin 'scuriolus'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s squirrel "squirrel", replaced Old English 'acweorna'.