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ermine
(ʉr′min)
- any of several northern weasels having brown fur in summer and white fur with a black-tipped tail in winter, as the stoat
- the soft, white fur of this animal, used for women's coats, trimming, etc.
- the position, rank, or functions of some European judges or peers, whose state robe is trimmed with ermine
- Heraldry a representation of a fur indicated by black spots on a white field
Origin: ME & OFr ermin; OFr ermine, hermine, prob. < MHG hermin, erminelike < harme, ermine < OHG harmo, weasel (OE hearma): infl. by folk-etym. assoc. with L (mus) Armenius, Armenian (mouse)
See ermine in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- A weasel (Mustela erminea) of northern regions, having a black-tipped tail and dark brown fur that in winter changes to white.
- The commercially valuable white fur of this animal.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English ermin
Origin: , from Old French ermine
Origin: , possibly of Germanic origin
Origin: or from Medieval Latin (mūs) Armenius, Armenian (mouse)
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