flying squirrel

flying squirrel
    n 1: nocturnal phalangers that move with gliding leaps using
         parachute-like folds of skin along the sides of the body
         [syn: {flying phalanger}, {flying opossum}, {flying
         squirrel}]
    

Flying \Fly"ing\, a. [From {Fly}, v. i.]
   Moving in the air with, or as with, wings; moving lightly or
   rapidly; intended for rapid movement.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Flying army} (Mil.) a body of cavalry and infantry, kept in
      motion, to cover its own garrisons and to keep the enemy
      in continual alarm. --Farrow. 

   {Flying artillery} (Mil.), artillery trained to rapid
      evolutions, -- the men being either mounted or trained to
      spring upon the guns and caissons when they change
      position.

   {Flying bridge}, {Flying camp}. See under {Bridge}, and
      {Camp}.

   {Flying buttress} (Arch.), a contrivance for taking up the
      thrust of a roof or vault which can not be supported by
      ordinary buttresses. It consists of a straight bar of
      masonry, usually sloping, carried on an arch, and a solid
      pier or buttress sufficient to receive the thrust. The
      word is generally applied only to the straight bar with
      supporting arch.

   {Flying colors}, flags unfurled and waving in the air; hence:

   {To come off with flying colors}, to be victorious; to
      succeed thoroughly in an undertaking.

   {Flying doe} (Zool.), a young female kangaroo.

   {Flying dragon}.
   (a) (Zool.) See {Dragon}, 6.
   (b) A meteor. See under {Dragon}.

   {Flying Dutchman}.
   (a) A fabled Dutch mariner condemned for his crimes to sail
       the seas till the day of judgment.
   (b) A spectral ship.

   {Flying fish}. (Zool.) See {Flying fish}, in the Vocabulary.
      

   {Flying fox} (Zool.), see {Flying fox} in the vocabulary.

   {Flying frog} (Zool.), either of two East Indian tree frogs
      of the genus {Rhacophorus} ({Rhacophorus nigrapalmatus}
      and {Rhacophorus pardalis}), having very large and broadly
      webbed feet, which serve as parachutes, and enable it to
      make very long leaps.

   {Flying gurnard} (Zool.), a species of gurnard of the genus
      {Cephalacanthus} or {Dactylopterus}, with very large
      pectoral fins, said to be able to fly like the flying
      fish, but not for so great a distance.

   Note: Three species are known; that of the Atlantic is
         {Cephalacanthus volitans}.

   {Flying jib} (Naut.), a sail extended outside of the standing
      jib, on the flying-jib boom.

   {Flying-jib boom} (Naut.), an extension of the jib boom.

   {Flying kites} (Naut.), light sails carried only in fine
      weather.

   {Flying lemur}. (Zool.) See {Colugo}.

   {Flying level} (Civil Engin.), a reconnoissance level over
      the course of a projected road, canal, etc.

   {Flying lizard}. (Zool.) See {Dragon}, n. 6.

   {Flying machine}, any apparatus for navigating through the
      air, especially a heavier-than-air machine. -- {Flying
   mouse} (Zool.), the opossum mouse ({Acrobates pygm[ae]us}), a
      marsupial of Australia. Called also {feathertail glider}.

   Note: It has lateral folds of skin, like the flying
         squirrels, and a featherlike tail. -- {Flying party}
      (Mil.), a body of soldiers detailed to hover about an
      enemy. -- {Flying phalanger} (Zool.), one of several
      species of small marsuupials of the genera {Petaurus} and
      {Belideus}, of Australia and New Guinea, having lateral
      folds like those of the flying squirrels. The sugar
      squirrel ({Belideus sciureus}), and the ariel ({Belideus
      ariel}), are the best known; -- called also {squirrel
      petaurus} and {flying squirrel}. See {Sugar squirrel}. --
   {Flying pinion}, the fly of a clock. -- {Flying sap} (Mil.),
      the rapid construction of trenches (when the enemy's fire
      of case shot precludes the method of simple trenching), by
      means of gabions placed in juxtaposition and filled with
      earth. -- {Flying shot}, a shot fired at a moving object,
      as a bird on the wing. -- {Flying spider}. (Zool.) See
      {Ballooning spider}. -- {Flying squid} (Zool.), an oceanic
      squid ({Ommastrephes Bartramii} syn. {Sthenoteuthis
      Bartramii}), abundant in the Gulf Stream, which is able to
      leap out of the water with such force that it often falls
      on the deck of a vessel. -- {Flying squirrel} (Zool.) See
      {Flying squirrel}, in the Vocabulary. -- {Flying start}, a
      start in a sailing race in which the signal is given while
      the vessels are under way. -- {Flying torch} (Mil.), a
      torch attached to a long staff and used for signaling at
      night.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Flying squirrel \Fly"ing squir"rel\ (? or ?). (Zool.)
   One of a group of squirrels, of the genus {Glaucomys}
   (formerly {Pteromus} and {Sciuropterus} [1913 Webster]),
   especially {Glaucomys volans} and {Glaucomys sabrinus},
   having parachute-like folds of skin extending from the fore
   to the hind legs, which enable them to make very long,
   gliding leaps.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

   Note: The species of Pteromys are large, with bushy tails,
         and inhabit southern Asia and the East Indies; those of
         Sciuropterus are smaller, with flat tails, and inhabit
         the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. The
         American species {(Sciuropterus volucella)} is also
         called Assapan. The Australian flying squirrels, or
         flying phalangers, are marsupials. See {Flying
         phalanger} (above).
         [1913 Webster]
    

Squirrel \Squir"rel\ (skw[~e]r"r[e^]l or skw[i^]r"-; 277), n.
   [OE. squirel, OF. esquirel, escurel, F. ['e]cureuil, LL.
   squirelus, squirolus, scuriolus, dim. of L. sciurus, Gr.
   si`oyros; skia` shade + o'yra` tail. Cf. {Shine}, v. i.]
   1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents
      belonging to the genus {Sciurus} and several allied genera
      of the family {Sciuridae}. Squirrels generally have a
      bushy tail, large erect ears, and strong hind legs. They
      are commonly arboreal in their habits, but many species
      live in burrows.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Among the common North American squirrels are the gray
         squirrel ({Sciurus Carolinensis}) and its black
         variety; the fox, or cat, squirrel ({Sciurus cinereus},
         or {Sciurus niger}) which is a large species, and
         variable in color, the southern variety being
         frequently black, while the northern and western
         varieties are usually gray or rusty brown; the red
         squirrel (see {Chickaree}); the striped, or chipping,
         squirrel (see {Chipmunk}); and the California gray
         squirrel ({Sciurus fossor}). Several other species
         inhabit Mexico and Central America. The common European
         species ({Sciurus vulgaris}) has a long tuft of hair on
         each ear. The so-called Australian squirrels are
         marsupials. See {Petaurist}, and {Phalanger}.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. One of the small rollers of a carding machine which work
      with the large cylinder.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Barking squirrel} (Zool.), the prairie dog.

   {Federation squirrel} (Zool.), the striped gopher. See
      {Gopher}, 2.

   {Flying squirrel} (Zool.). See {Flying squirrel}, in the
      Vocabulary.

   {Java squirrel}. (Zool.). See {Jelerang}.

   {Squirrel corn} (Bot.), a North American herb ({Dicentra
      Canadensis}) bearing little yellow tubers.

   {Squirrel cup} (Bot.), the blossom of the {Hepatica triloba},
      a low perennial herb with cup-shaped flowers varying from
      purplish blue to pink or even white. It is one of the
      earliest flowers of spring.

   {Squirrel fish}. (Zool.)
      (a) A sea bass ({Serranus fascicularis}) of the Southern
          United States.
      (b) The sailor's choice ({Diplodus rhomboides}).
      (c) The redmouth, or grunt.
      (d) A market fish of Bermuda ({Holocentrum Ascensione}).
          

   {Squirrel grass} (Bot.), a pestiferous grass ({Hordeum
      murinum}) related to barley. In California the stiffly
      awned spikelets work into the wool of sheep, and into the
      throat, flesh, and eyes of animals, sometimes even
      producing death.

   {Squirrel hake} (Zool.), a common American hake ({Phycis
      tenuis}); -- called also {white hake}.

   {Squirrel hawk} (Zool.), any rough-legged hawk; especially,
      the California species {Archibuteo ferrugineus}.

   {Squirrel monkey}. (Zool.)
      (a) Any one of several species of small, soft-haired South
          American monkeys of the genus {Callithrix}. They are
          noted for their graceful form and agility. See
          {Teetee}.
      (b) A marmoset.

   {Squirrel petaurus} (Zool.), a flying phalanger of Australia.
      See {Phalanger}, {Petaurist}, and {Flying phalanger} under
      {Flying}.

   {Squirrel shrew} (Zool.), any one of several species of East
      Indian and Asiatic insectivores of the genus {Tupaia}.
      They are allied to the shrews, but have a bushy tail, like
      that of a squirrel.

   {Squirrel-tail grass} (Bot.), a grass ({Hordeum jubatum})
      found in salt marshes and along the Great Lakes, having a
      dense spike beset with long awns.
      [1913 Webster]