Advertisement

Advertisement

polecat

[ pohl-kat ]

noun

, plural pole·cats, (especially collectively) pole·cat.
  1. a European mammal, Mustela putorius, of the weasel family, having a blackish fur and ejecting a fetid fluid when attacked or disturbed. Compare ferret 1( def 1 ).
  2. any of various North American skunks.


polecat

/ ˈpəʊlˌkæt /

noun

  1. Also called (formerly)foumart a dark brown musteline mammal, Mustela putorius, of woodlands of Europe, Asia, and N Africa, that is closely related to but larger than the weasel and gives off an unpleasant smell See also sweet marten
  2. any of various related animals, such as the marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna
  3. a nontechnical name for skunk
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of polecat1

1275–1325; Middle English polcat, perhaps equivalent to Middle French pol, poul “chicken” (< Latin pullus ) + cat ( def )
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of polecat1

C14 polcat, perhaps from Old French pol cock, from Latin pullus, + cat 1; from its habit of preying on poultry
Discover More

Example Sentences

The exhilaration of the polecats sequence in “Fury Road” — that fact that there’s such a thing as polecats — made the series a constant source of glee.

So far, erythrism has been identified in dozens of species, including reef manta rays, leopards, and European polecats.

One of the ferrets is described as a sable polecat ferret, and the other is a silver ferret.

From BBC

Other species that have gotten infected around the world include a badger, bobcat, coyote, dolphin, ferret, fisher cat, fox, lynx, opossum, otter, pig, polecat, porpoise, raccoon, raccoon dog and multiple minks and seals.

Two bobcats in Wisconsin, a coyote pup in Michigan and skunks in Canada have also tested positive for the virus, as have foxes, otters, a lynx, a polecat and a badger in Europe.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


pole beanpole compass