flying squirrel

IPA/ˌflaɪɪŋ ˈskwɪrəl/
IPA/ˌflaɪɪŋ ˈskwɜːrəl/

flying squirrel — noun

1. a small squirrel with loose flaps of skin linking its front and rear legs, which

1.nounB2
Definition

a small squirrel with loose flaps of skin linking its front and rear legs, which it spreads out to glide between trees

Example

Liam spotted a flying squirrel gliding silently between two tall pine trees at dusk.

glide between trees — typical habitat and motion

Yara shone her torch on a flying squirrel resting inside a hollow oak tree.

Common collocations
  • glide from tree to tree
  • nocturnal rodent

Usage Note

Although the name contains 'flying', the animal cannot flap its limbs to stay up — it only glides downward between trees, so 'glide' or 'soar' fits its motion far better than 'fly'.

Common Mistakes

The flying squirrel flew over the wide river.
The flying squirrel glided over the wide river.
flying squirrels cannot truly fly like birds or bats; they only glide between high points.

Etymology

GreekLatinOld FrenchEnglish

The animal's name joins 'flying', from its gliding leaps between trees, with 'squirrel'. 'Squirrel' goes back to a Greek word meaning 'shadow-tail', describing how the bushy tail can shade the body, and it reached English through Latin and Old French. The creature does not truly fly, so 'flying' here describes its long, gliding jumps rather than wing-powered flight.

First known use

1591

1591, in the meaning defined above