Editing Squirrel (section)

== Etymology ==
The word ''squirrel'', first attested in 1327, comes from the [[Anglo-Norman language|Anglo-Norman]] {{lang|xno|esquirel}} which is from the [[Old French]] {{lang|fro|escurel}}, the reflex of a [[Latin language|Latin]] word {{lang|la|sciurus}}, which was taken from the [[Ancient Greek]] word {{lang|grc|σκίουρος}} ({{transliteration|grc|skiouros}}; from {{lang|grc|σκία-ουρος}}) 'shadow-tailed', referring to the long bushy tail which many of its members have.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia =[[The Oxford English Dictionary]] | title = squirrel, ''n''. | url = http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50235460 | access-date =8 November 2010 | edition = 2nd. | year = 1989 | publisher = Oxford University Press}}</ref>{{sfn|Whitaker|Elman|1980|p=370}} ''[[Sciurus]]'' is also the name of one of its genuses.{{sfn|Whitaker|Elman|1980|p=370}}

The native [[Old English language|Old English]] word for the squirrel, {{lang|ang|ācweorna}}, only survived into [[Middle English language|Middle English]] (as {{lang|enm|aquerne}}) before being replaced.<ref name="etymonline">{{cite web | url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=squirrel | title=Squirrel | work=Online Etymology Dictionary | access-date=7 February 2008}}</ref> The Old English word is of [[Common Germanic]] origin, [[cognate]]s of which are still used in other [[Germanic languages]], including the [[German language|German]] {{lang|de|Eichhörnchen}} (diminutive of {{lang|de|Eichhorn}}, which is not as frequently used); the [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] {{lang|no|ikorn}}/{{lang|no|ekorn}}; the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] {{lang|nl|eekhoorn}}; the [[Swedish language|Swedish]] {{lang|sv|ekorre}} and the [[Danish language|Danish]] {{lang|da|egern}}.

A [[Terms of venery|group of]] squirrels is called a "dray"<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lipton|first=James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AVNazQEACAAJ|title=An Exaltation of Larks|date=1991|publisher=Viking|isbn=978-0-670-30044-0|language=en}}</ref> or a "scurry".<ref>''Universe in Your Pocket'' by Joel Levy, published by Barnes & Noble, Inc.</ref>