Weasel

Weasel
Weasel Wea"sel, n. [OE. wesele, AS. wesle; akin to D. wezel, G. wiesel, OHG. wisala, Icel. hreyiv[=i]sla, Dan. v["a]sel, Sw. vessla; of uncertain origin; cf. Gr. ?, ?, cat, weasel.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of various species of small carnivores belonging to the genus {Putorius}, as the ermine and ferret. They have a slender, elongated body, and are noted for the quickness of their movements and for their bloodthirsty habit in destroying poultry, rats, etc. The ermine and some other species are brown in summer, and turn white in winter; others are brown at all seasons. [1913 Webster]

{Malacca weasel}, the rasse.

{Weasel coot}, a female or young male of the smew; -- so called from the resemblance of the head to that of a weasel. Called also {weasel duck}.

{Weasel lemur}, a short-tailed lemur ({Lepilemur mustelinus}). It is reddish brown above, grayish brown below, with the throat white. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • weasel — [wē′zəl] n. pl. weasels or weasel [ME wesel < OE wesle, akin to Ger wiesel, prob. < IE base * weis , to flow out (with reference to the rank odor emitted by the animal) > VIRUS, BISON] 1. any of various agile musteline carnivores (esp.… …   English World dictionary

  • weasel — [n] sneak betrayer, blabbermouth*, canary*, deceiver, deep throat*, doublecrosser, fink*, informant, informer, narc*, nark*, rat*, sneak, snitch, snitcher, source, squealer*, stoolie*, stool pigeon*, tattler, tattletale, tipster*, turncoat,… …   New thesaurus

  • weasel — ► NOUN 1) a small slender carnivorous mammal related to the stoat, with reddish brown fur. 2) informal a deceitful or treacherous person. ► VERB (weaselled, weaselling; US weaseled, weaseling) ▪ achieve through cunning or deceit …   English terms dictionary

  • Weasel — For other uses, see Weasel (disambiguation). Weasel Least Weasel Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • weasel — /wee zeuhl/, n., pl. weasels, (esp. collectively) weasel, v. n. 1. any small carnivore of the genus Mustela, of the family Mustelidae, having a long, slender body and feeding chiefly on small rodents. 2. any of various similar animals of the… …   Universalium

  • weasel — {{11}}weasel (n.) O.E. weosule, wesle weasel, from P.Gmc. *wisulon (Cf. O.N. visla, M.Du. wesel, Du. wezel, O.H.G. wisula, Ger. Wiesel), probably related to P.Gmc. *wisand bison (see BISON (Cf. bison)), with a base sense of …   Etymology dictionary

  • weasel — I. noun (plural weasels) Etymology: Middle English wesele, from Old English weosule; akin to Old High German wisula weasel Date: before 12th century 1. or plural weasel any of various small slender active carnivorous mammals (genus Mustela of the …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Weasel — M29 Weasel Le M29 Weasel est un véhicule automobile chenillé créé et utilisé par l armée américaine pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Sa conception amphibie le prédestinait aux régions marécageuses. Il fut utilisé par le Corps expéditionnaire… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • weasel — v. (colloq.) (AE) (d; intr.) to weasel out of ( to evade ) (to weasel out of one s obligations) * * * [ wiːz(ə)l] (colloq.) (AE) (d; intr.) to weasel out of (to weasel out of one s obligations; to evade ) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • weasel — wea|sel1 [ˈwi:zəl] n [: Old English; Origin: weosule] a small thin furry animal that kills and eats rats and birds weasel 2 weasel2 v past tense and past participle weaselled present participle weaselling BrE past tense and past participle… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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