flying squirrel
flying squirrel Lexical Profile
• noun
Any of various nocturnal rodents in the tribe Pteromyini, native to forests in North America, Europe, and Asia, characterized by a furry membrane of skin stretching between their front and rear legs that allows them to glide gracefully between trees.
"While hiking at dusk, we were lucky enough to spot a flying squirrel gliding effortlessly from the top of an oak tree to a lower branch."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite their name, flying squirrels do not actually achieve powered flight; rather, they glide from tree to tree using a specialized membrane of skin called a patagium.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the early 17th century, coined as a descriptive compound noun from 'flying' (referring to their aerial gliding abilities) and 'squirrel' (from Anglo-Norman 'esquirel').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.