DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 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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 Fox n.; pl. Foxes
 1. Zool. A carnivorous animal of the genus Vulpes, family Canidæ, of many species. The European fox (V. vulgaris or V. vulpes), the American red fox (V. fulvus), the American gray fox (V. Virginianus), and the arctic, white, or blue, fox (V. lagopus) are well-known species.
 Note: ☞ The black or silver-gray fox is a variety of the American red fox, producing a fur of great value; the cross-gray and woods-gray foxes are other varieties of the same species, of less value. The common foxes of Europe and America are very similar; both are celebrated for their craftiness. They feed on wild birds, poultry, and various small animals.
    Subtle as the fox for prey.   --Shak.
 2. Zool. The European dragonet.
 3. Zool. The fox shark or thrasher shark; -- called also sea fox. See Thrasher shark, under Shark.
 4. A sly, cunning fellow. [Colloq.]
    We call a crafty and cruel man a fox.   --Beattie.
 5. Naut. Rope yarn twisted together, and rubbed with tar; -- used for seizings or mats.
 6. A sword; -- so called from the stamp of a fox on the blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox. [Obs.]
    Thou diest on point of fox.   --Shak.
 7. pl. Ethnol. A tribe of Indians which, with the Sacs, formerly occupied the region about Green Bay, Wisconsin; -- called also Outagamies.
 Fox and geese. (a) A boy's game, in which one boy tries to catch others as they run one goal to another. (b) A game with sixteen checkers, or some substitute for them, one of which is called the fox, and the rest the geese; the fox, whose first position is in the middle of the board, endeavors to break through the line of the geese, and the geese to pen up the fox.
 Fox bat Zool., a large fruit bat of the genus Pteropus, of many species, inhabiting Asia, Africa, and the East Indies, esp. P. medius of India. Some of the species are more than four feet across the outspread wings. See Fruit bat.
 Fox bolt, a bolt having a split end to receive a fox wedge.
 Fox brush Zool., the tail of a fox.
 Fox evil, a disease in which the hair falls off; alopecy.
 Fox grape Bot., the name of two species of American grapes. The northern fox grape (Vitis Labrusca) is the origin of the varieties called Isabella, Concord, Hartford, etc., and the southern fox grape (Vitis vulpina) has produced the Scuppernong, and probably the Catawba.
 Fox hunter. (a) One who pursues foxes with hounds. (b) A horse ridden in a fox chase.
 Fox shark Zool., the thrasher shark. See Thrasher shark, under Thrasher.
 Fox sleep, pretended sleep.
 Fox sparrow Zool., a large American sparrow (Passerella iliaca); -- so called on account of its reddish color.
 Fox squirrel Zool., a large North American squirrel (Sciurus niger, or S. cinereus). In the Southern States the black variety prevails; farther north the fulvous and gray variety, called the cat squirrel, is more common.
 Fox terrier Zool., one of a peculiar breed of terriers, used in hunting to drive foxes from their holes, and for other purposes. There are rough- and smooth-haired varieties.
 Fox trot, a pace like that which is adopted for a few steps, by a horse, when passing from a walk into a trot, or a trot into a walk.
 Fox wedge Mach. & Carpentry, a wedge for expanding the split end of a bolt, cotter, dowel, tenon, or other piece, to fasten the end in a hole or mortise and prevent withdrawal. The wedge abuts on the bottom of the hole and the piece is driven down upon it. Fastening by fox wedges is called foxtail wedging.
 Fox wolf Zool., one of several South American wild dogs, belonging to the genus Canis. They have long, bushy tails like a fox.

 Sciurus niger
      n : exceptionally large arboreal squirrel of eastern United
          States [syn: fox squirrel, eastern fox squirrel]