Etymologically
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sciurus

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 14:18. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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]

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