sciurus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [skiˈuː.rʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ʃiˈuː.rus]^[1]

Forms

sciūrus m (genitive sciūrī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek σκίουρος (skíouros, “squirrel”), from σκιά (skiá, “shadow”) and οὐρά (ourá, “tail”).^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Pliny the Elder, whom he dates 23/24–79 AD, and Pliny uses it of the squirrel.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a squirrel, as in Pliny the Elder and Martial.^[2][4][5]

British Medieval Latin used it for the squirrel, as in Tatwine's riddle.^[6] A Vulgar Latin diminutive *scūriolus gave Old French escurueil, French écureuil and English squirrel in the early 14th century, and Italian has scoiattolo.^[1][7]

Timeline

• 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of the squirrel.^[4][3]
• 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it.^[4][3]
• early 14th century – English squirrel is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A squirrel.^[2]

Related words

• English squirrel

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com