western gray squirrel

5.4

A large gray tree squirrel with a bushy tail that lives in western United States forests

noun
/ˈwɛstərn ɡreɪ skwɜrl/

Specialized

: ardilla gris occidental

The western gray squirrel is commonly found in oak woodlands and pine forests of California.

Examples

Wildlife biologists are studying the decline of the western gray squirrel in its native habitat.
Unlike its cousin in the east, the western gray squirrel has a noticeably bushier tail.
The western gray squirrel is common in California.
Have you ever seen a western gray squirrel?
The western gray squirrel is commonly found in oak woodlands and pine forests of California.
Unlike its cousin in the east, the western gray squirrel has a noticeably bushier tail.
Wildlife biologists are studying the decline of the western gray squirrel in its native habitat.

Synonyms

Sciurus griseus

vswestern gray squirrel

Specialized

9.9

A large gray squirrel native to the far western United States

is the common English name used in everyday speech

Surface Forms

western gray squirrel singular

western gray squirrels plural

Morphology

western + gray + squirrel

The noun phrase is transparently compositional: 'western' (from the west) + 'gray' (color) + 'squirrel' (small arboreal rodent) yields a squirrel that is gray and from western regions. This adjective + adjective + noun modification pattern is common in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Western gray squirrel is a name for a large squirrel from the far western United States with a very bushy tail. The words western and gray tell you where it lives and what color its fur is, so the name helps you picture the animal.