noun pl. ermines or ermine
- 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)