ermine

(ʉrmin)

noun pl. ermines or ermine

  1. any of several northern weasels having brown fur in summer and white fur with a black-tipped tail in winter, as the stoat
  2. the soft, white fur of this animal, used for women's coats, trimming, etc.
  3. the position, rank, or functions of some European judges or peers, whose state robe is trimmed with ermine
  4. 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
  1. A weasel (Mustela erminea) of northern regions, having a black-tipped tail and dark brown fur that in winter changes to white.
  2. 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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