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. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents
belonging to the genus Sciurus and several allied genera
of the family Sciuridae. 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.
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Note: Among the common North American squirrels are the gray
squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis) and its black
variety; the fox, or cat, squirrel (Sciurus cinereus,
or Sciurus 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 (Sciurus 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.
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2. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work
with the large cylinder.
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Barking squirrel (Zool.), the prairie dog.
Federation squirrel (Zool.), the striped gopher. See
Gopher, 2.
Flying squirrel (Zool.). See Flying squirrel, in the
Vocabulary.
Java squirrel. (Zool.). See Jelerang.
Squirrel corn (Bot.), a North American herb (Dicentra
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. (Zool.)
(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 spikelets work into the wool of sheep, and into the
throat, flesh, and eyes of animals, sometimes even
producing death.
Squirrel hake (Zool.), a common American hake (Phycis
tenuis); -- called also white hake.
Squirrel hawk (Zool.), any rough-legged hawk; especially,
the California species Archibuteo ferrugineus.
Squirrel monkey. (Zool.)
(a) Any one of several species of small, soft-haired South
American monkeys of the genus Callithrix. They are
noted for their graceful form and agility. See
Teetee.
(b) A marmoset.
Squirrel petaurus (Zool.), a flying phalanger of Australia.
See Phalanger, Petaurist, and Flying phalanger under
Flying.
Squirrel shrew (Zool.), 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.
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Wall \Wall\, n. [AS. weall, from L. vallum a wall, vallus a
stake, pale, palisade; akin to Gr. ? a nail. Cf. Interval.]
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1. A work or structure of stone, brick, or other materials,
raised to some height, and intended for defense or
security, solid and permanent inclosing fence, as around a
field, a park, a town, etc., also, one of the upright
inclosing parts of a building or a room.
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The plaster of the wall of the King's palace. --Dan.
v. 5.
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2. A defense; a rampart; a means of protection; in the
plural, fortifications, in general; works for defense.
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The waters were a wall unto them on their right
hand, and on their left. --Ex. xiv. 22.
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In such a night,
Troilus, methinks, mounted the Troyan walls. --Shak.
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To rush undaunted to defend the walls. --Dryden.
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3. An inclosing part of a receptacle or vessel; as, the walls
of a steam-engine cylinder.
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4. (Mining)
(a) The side of a level or drift.
(b) The country rock bounding a vein laterally. --Raymond.
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Note: Wall is often used adjectively, and also in the
formation of compounds, usually of obvious
signification; as in wall paper, or wall-paper; wall
fruit, or wall-fruit; wallflower, etc.
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Blank wall, Blind wall, etc. See under Blank, Blind,
etc.
To drive to the wall, to bring to extremities; to push to
extremes; to get the advantage of, or mastery over.
To go to the wall, to be hard pressed or driven; to be the
weaker party; to be pushed to extremes.
To take the wall. to take the inner side of a walk, that
is, the side next the wall; hence, to take the precedence.
"I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's."
--Shak.
Wall barley (Bot.), a kind of grass (Hordeum murinum)
much resembling barley; squirrel grass. See under
Squirrel.
Wall box. (Mach.) See Wall frame, below.
Wall creeper (Zool.), a small bright-colored bird
(Tichodroma muraria) native of Asia and Southern Europe.
It climbs about over old walls and cliffs in search of
insects and spiders. Its body is ash-gray above, the wing
coverts are carmine-red, the primary quills are mostly red
at the base and black distally, some of them with white
spots, and the tail is blackish. Called also spider
catcher.
Wall cress (Bot.), a name given to several low cruciferous
herbs, especially to the mouse-ear cress. See under
Mouse-ear.
Wall frame (Mach.), a frame set in a wall to receive a
pillow block or bearing for a shaft passing through the
wall; -- called also wall box.
Wall fruit, fruit borne by trees trained against a wall.
Wall gecko (Zool.), any one of several species of Old World
geckos which live in or about buildings and run over the
vertical surfaces of walls, to which they cling by means
of suckers on the feet.
Wall lizard (Zool.), a common European lizard (Lacerta
muralis) which frequents houses, and lives in the chinks
and crevices of walls; -- called also wall newt.
Wall louse, a wood louse.
Wall moss (Bot.), any species of moss growing on walls.
Wall newt (Zool.), the wall lizard. --Shak.
Wall paper, paper for covering the walls of rooms; paper
hangings.
Wall pellitory (Bot.), a European plant (Parictaria
officinalis) growing on old walls, and formerly esteemed
medicinal.
Wall pennywort (Bot.), a plant (Cotyledon Umbilicus)
having rounded fleshy leaves. It is found on walls in
Western Europe.
Wall pepper (Bot.), a low mosslike plant (Sedum acre)
with small fleshy leaves having a pungent taste and
bearing yellow flowers. It is common on walls and rocks in
Europe, and is sometimes seen in America.
Wall pie (Bot.), a kind of fern; wall rue.
Wall piece, a gun planted on a wall. --H. L. Scott.
Wall plate (Arch.), a piece of timber placed horizontally
upon a wall, and supporting posts, joists, and the like.
See Illust. of Roof.
Wall rock, granular limestone used in building walls. [U.
S.] --Bartlett.
Wall rue (Bot.), a species of small fern (Asplenium
Ruta-muraria) growing on walls, rocks, and the like.
Wall spring, a spring of water issuing from stratified
rocks.
Wall tent, a tent with upright cloth sides corresponding to
the walls of a house.
Wall wasp (Zool.), a common European solitary wasp
(Odynerus parietus) which makes its nest in the crevices
of walls.
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