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Definition of flying squirrel

flying squirrel

Plural:flying squirrels
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• noun

1

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.

Example

"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

flying fox
flying gecko
flying snake
flying squirrel
flying tree snake
flyover
flypaper

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Flying squirrel. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/flying-squirrel
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