Meanings
plural parka squirrels
- Synonym of Arctic ground squirrel.
They only had one parka squirrel coat.
2003, James Kari, James A. Fall, Shem Pete, Shem Pete's Alaska: The Territory of the Upper Cook Inlet Dena'ina, →ISBN2 more examples
On the prairie there are little mounds made by generations of parka squirrels. The old-time Eskimo would find a bear that was hunting squirrels and then slip around into its path. Prone behind a parka squirrel's mound, the Eskimo would thrust up his forearm with fist doubled to imitate a squirrel, at the same time chirping like an alarmed squirrel.
2001, Larry Kaniut, Bear Tales for the Ages: From Alaska and Beyond, →ISBN, page 121The wolves had not noticed the distant caribou, and Cris gave each a parka squirrel to hold them with him.
2016, Lois Crisler, Arctic Wild, →ISBNSynonyms: Arctic ground squirrel
Synonyms & antonyms
nounSynonym of Arctic ground squirrel.
More synonyms by meaning
nounlarge ground squirrel of the North American far north
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
So called because the Eskimos use the pelts of these squirrels to make parkas.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
parka squirrel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parka%20squirrel
“parka squirrel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parka%20squirrel. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “parka squirrel,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/parka%20squirrel.
Source: parka squirrel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.