different between squirrelly vs squirrelish

English

squirrel +? -ly, 1925. Presumably from erratic movement of squirrels, or by analogy with nuts (“insane”).

squirrelly (comparative squirrellier or more squirrelly, superlative squirrelliest or most squirrelly)

squirrel +? -ish

squirrelish (comparative more squirrelish, superlative most squirrelish)

Squirrel-like; having qualities associated with squirrels.
- 1834, William Thomas Beckford, Italy; with sketches of Spain and Portugal
  How delighted my friend, the Effendi, must have been upon entering such a paradise, which he soon did after we arrived there, followed by his Armenian interpreter, whom I like better than the Greek, Timoni, with his prying, squirrelish look, and malicious propensities.
- 1894, John Muir, The Mountains of California
  In bountiful seasons a single Indian will gather thirty or forty bushels of them—a fine squirrelish employment.

Send