ermine

[ ur-min ]

noun

, plural er·mines, (especially collectively) er·mine.

1. an Old World weasel, Mustela erminea, having in its winter color phase a white coat with black at the tip of the tail. Compare stoat.
2. any of various weasels having a white winter coat.
3. the lustrous, white, winter fur of the ermine, often having fur from the animal's black tail tip inserted at intervals for contrast.
4. the rank, position, or status of a king, peer, or judge, especially one in certain European countries who wears, or formerly wore, a robe trimmed with ermine, as on official or state occasions.
5. Heraldry. a fur, consisting of a conventional representation of tails, often with a pattern of dots, sable on argent.

adjective

1. made of, covered, or adorned with ermine.

ermine

/ ˈɜːmɪn /

noun

1. the stoat in northern regions, where it has a white winter coat with a black-tipped tail
2. the fur of this animal
3. one of the two principal furs used on heraldic shields, conventionally represented by a white field flecked with black ermine tails Compare vair
4. the dignity or office of a judge, noble, or king
5. short for ermine moth

Other Words From

• ermined adjective
• un·ermined adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ermine¹

1150–1200; Middle English < Old French ( h ) ermine, noun use of feminine of ( h ) ermin (masculine adj.) < Latin Armenius, short for Armenius ( mūs ) Armenian (rat)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ermine¹

C12: from Old French hermine, from Medieval Latin Armenius ( mūs ) Armenian (mouse)

Example Sentences

She'll start by wearing one of the fake fur robes on offer for her introduction ceremony, rather than a traditional ermine robe, and she will take her oath in Welsh.

From BBC

For special occasions, the royals donned crowns and ermine robes.

From New York Times

Nicky Morgan stayed on as Boris Johnson's culture secretary for several months after standing down as an MP at the 2019 election, taking the ermine and becoming Baroness Morgan in the process.

From BBC

PS: The "Cap of Maintenance" is a red velvet hat, lined with ermine, that is one of the Royal Family's insignia.

From BBC

These modern-day ermine furs have been bestowed on a Supreme Court justice who, in return, grafts unyielding conservatism onto a 230-year-old founding text that was never meant to be static.

From Salon