Middle English Dictionary Entry
squirel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | squirel n. Also squirelle, -ille, squerel, -ille, scurelle, scorel, swirel, swerel(le & (in surnames) squrel, skwirel, skirel, scurel, scurle; pl. squireles, etc. & squirrelles, squerelles, squareleis. |
| Etymology | OF escurel, esquireul, AF esquirel, squirel, vars. of OF escurueil; also cp. AL scurellus, squirellus, (Scot.) scorella, vars. of ML scuriolus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A squirrel, esp. the common Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris); -- also coll.; (b) the fur of the squirrel; (c) ~ tail, the tail of a squirrel; -- also coll.; squireles tail(es, the tails of squirrels; (d) a representation of a squirrel; -- also coll.; (e) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Grete ferly (Roy 17.B.17)120 : In no sted con þai rest ne duelle, but stirten about ay as a squyrelle.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)639/29 : Scurellus: a squyrylle.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)134/25 : Þei wole lepen as lightly into trees & fro tree to tree as it were squyrelles or apes.
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)436 : Serve hit forth, a hole conynge or a rabet or a squerel or a partriche, for a lorde.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)196 : The dredful ro, the buk, the hert and hynde, Squyrels [vrr. Squyrelis, Squyrell, Squerellis, Squerel], and bestes smale of gentil kynde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)450 : Scorel, or squerel, beest: Esperiolus.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)662 : Skynnes of oter, squerel, and Irysh hare.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)431 : Many sqwirelles..sete Ful high upon the trees and ete.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)124a : A Swyrell [Monson: Swerelle]: Asperiolus.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)700/13 : Cirogrillus: a sqwerylle.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)759/29 : Sirogrillus, scurellus: a scurelle.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.155 : The lytill squerell, full of besyness.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)49/175 : Here are beares..wesills, squerrells [vr. squirrles], and fyrrett.
b
- [ 1311 Liber Horn in NQ ser.11.5 (LMA COL/CS/01/002)170 : Strandling, est Squirel contre le feste Seint Michel. ]
- (1327) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.153 : [A fur of] scurelle, [60 beasts].
- (1403) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.23 : [Four mantles of] squyrell.
c
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)132/2643 : He let him make a garnement..And heng þer on squirel tail [vrr. squyrelle taylys; squerels tayle; squerelles tayles; tailes of squyrell].
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)3104 : He gert it dub fra top til to, With swerel tailes ful blak also.
- c1500 Recipe MSS Hast.in HMC (Hnt HU 1051)1.425 : Mak a brusch of a squyrelle tayle and glase the cloth ther with.
d
- (1406) Wardrobe Acc.Philippa in Archaeol.67175 : Unum mantellum de panno adauro attaby operata cum Swyrell de auro factis et furrur'.
- (1432) Will York in Sur.Soc.3028 : Unum lectum de blod cum sqwirrelles.
- (a1451) Will York in Sur.Soc.4598 : Depict' cum j domina, et in manu suo j sqwerell.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.4 (Hrl 2169)239 : iij squareleys of porpell.
e
- (1199) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.10278 : Willelmus Scurle.
- (1221) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames330 : Ralph Squrel.
- (1230) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.4343 : Willelmus Scurell.
- (1286) Pat.R.Edw.I249 : Robert Squyrel.
- (1313) Sub.R.Bristol(1) in BGAS 19257 : Ricardus Skyrel.
- (1313) Sub.R.Glo.(1) in BGAS 19248 : Ricardus Skwyrel.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10197 : Rico Squirel.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Add.21431 Artist.Recipes (Add 21431) 327/11 : Grind it well togeder tyl hit be smale, and laye yt with a pensell made of a sqkrell tayle.
Note: New spelling (sqkrell).