Squir·rel n.
 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.
 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.
 2. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work with the large cylinder.
 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 n.
 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.
    The plaster of the wall of the King's palace.   --Dan. v. 5.
 2. A defense; a rampart; a means of protection; in the plural, fortifications, in general; works for defense.
    The waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.   --Ex. xiv. 22.
 In such a night,
 Troilus, methinks, mounted the Troyan walls.   --Shak.
    To rush undaunted to defend the walls.   --Dryden.
 3. An inclosing part of a receptacle or vessel; as, the walls of a steam-engine cylinder.
 4. Mining (a) The side of a level or drift.  (b) The country rock bounding a vein laterally.
 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.
 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.


 Hordeum murinum
      n : European annual grass often found as a weed in waste ground
          especially along roadsides and hedgerows [syn: {barley
          grass, wall barley]