Barry Wood, who writes the column “Wood on Words” in the Rockford Register Star, takes a look at descriptive words and phrases linked to animals.

Wood writes:

“This is the time of year when squirrels step up their gathering and hoarding for the winter. This activity has inspired the verb “to squirrel away” for such storing and hiding by humans, too.

We also have the slang adjective “squirrelly” for odd or goofy behavior, from a combination of the animals’ frisky play and their fondness for “nuts,” which also means crazy.”

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