Lexic.us

Definition of Polecat

1. Noun. American musteline mammal typically ejecting an intensely malodorous fluid when startled; in some classifications put in a separate subfamily Mephitinae.

2. Noun. Dark brown mustelid of woodlands of Eurasia that gives off an unpleasant odor when threatened.

Definition of Polecat

1. n. A small European carnivore of the Weasel family (Putorius fœtidus). Its scent glands secrete a substance of an exceedingly disagreeable odor. Called also fitchet, foulmart, and European ferret.

Definition of Polecat

1. Noun. A weasel-like animal of the genus ''Mustela'', notably the European polecat, (spelink Mustela putorius). ¹

2. Noun. (US dialect) a skunk ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Polecat

1. a carnivorous mammal [n -S]

Medical Definition of Polecat

1. A small European carnivore of the Weasel family (Putorius foetidus). Its scent glands secrete a substance of an exceedingly disagreeable odour. Called also fitchet, foulmart, and European ferret. The zorilla. The name is also applied to other allied species. Origin: Probably fr. F. Poule hen, and originally, a poultry cat, because it feeds on poultry. See Poultry. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Polecat

pole ligation pole position pole positions pole star pole stars pole vault pole vaulter pole vaulting polearm polearms

poleax poleaxe poleaxed poleaxes poleaxing polecat (current term) polecat weed polecats poled poledavies

poledavy polehole poleis poleless polelike polemarch polemarches polemic polemical polemicall

Literary usage of Polecat

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A History of the Earth, and Animated Nature by Oliver Goldsmith (1824)
"THE polecat. The polecat is larger than the weasel, the ermine, or the ferret, being one foot five inches long; whereas the weasel is but six inches, ..."

2. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"The polecat is very tenacious of life and will bear many severe wounds before ... Attempts to account for the first syllable of the word polecat rest ..."

3. The English Illustrated Magazine (1888)
"young ones of the polecat colour. I believe, however, that such instances are not of recent occurrence, A huge overgrown fitcher- ferret, ..."

4. A History of the Earth, and Animated Nature by Oliver Goldsmith (1823)
"THE polecat. THE polecat is larger than the weasel, the ermine, or the ferret, being one foot five inches long; whereas the weasel is but six inches, ..."

5. Library of Universal Knowledge: A Reprint of the Last (1880) Edinburgh and (1881)
"The polecat was much more common in Britain in former timos than now, ... The rabbit is followed by the polecat into its burrow, and its ravages among ..."

6. The Field Book: Or, Sports and Pastimes of the United Kingdom; Comp. from (1833)
"The polecat is particularly destructive among pigeons, when it happens to get ... The polecat is also fond of honey, frequently robbing the bee hives in ..."

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