Squirrely
/ˈskwɪr.li/noun
Having a nervous, erratic, or unpredictable quality; also resembling or relating to a squirrel.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek *skiouros*, literally “shadow-tailed,” a name ancient people gave squirrels because their big tails seemed to cast a shadow over their bodies.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
skiouros
“squirrel; literally “shadow-tailed””
Late Latin
Latin
sciurus
“squirrel”
Old French
OF
esquirel
“squirrel”
Middle English
English
squirel
“squirrel”
Modern English
English
squirrely
“having the nervous, erratic, or unpredictable quality associated with a squirrel”