'squirrel' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'esquirel', where 'es-' meant 'out' and 'quirel' meant 'tail'.

'esquirel' transformed into the Middle English word 'squirel', and eventually became the modern English word 'squirrel'.

Initially, it meant 'a small rodent with a bushy tail', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.