red squirrel
2
3.1
- noun
- /rɛd ˈskwɜrəl/
:
ardilla roja
- The red squirrel has a bushy tail that helps it balance while climbing.
- the chatter of red squirrels
- a red squirrel nest
I've seen dippers, red squirrels, endangered protected species that get into these traps that are set for, for, for these things.
- I've seen dippers, red squirrels, endangered protected species that get into these traps that are set for, for, for these things.
Examples
-
The red squirrels were the ones causing all the trouble.
Fiction book (2002) -
I raised my rifle, took aim, and fired at a large red squirrel running across an oak bough.
Fiction book (1990) -
Red squirrels and jays spread news of their passage.
Fiction book (2002) -
I've seen dippers, red squirrels, endangered protected species that get into these traps that are set for, for, for these things.
-
I saw a red squirrel darting up the tree in my backyard yesterday.
-
While hiking in the forest, we spotted a red squirrel gathering acorns.
Synonyms
A small tree squirrel with reddish-brown fur and a bushy tail found in Europe and Asia
A small reddish-brown tree squirrel from Europe and Asia with small fur tufts on its ears
A small animal with red fur that lives in trees in northern United States and Canada
A small reddish tree squirrel that lives in northern United States and Canada forests
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a squirrel with reddish fur' is directly and compositionally derived from 'red' (color) + 'squirrel' (animal); a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the referent. Color + noun combinations to denote animal variants are cross-linguistically common and follow transparent English compounding patterns.
Etymology
Red squirrel got its name because the animal has reddish fur and often lives in trees. People used red to show its colour and squirrel to name the small tree animal, so the name means 'a small reddish tree squirrel'.