stoat

[ stoht ]

noun

1. the ermine, Mustela erminea, especially when in brown summer pelage.

stoat

/ stəʊt /

noun

1. a small Eurasian musteline mammal, Mustela erminea, closely related to the weasels, having a brown coat and a black-tipped tail: in the northern parts of its range it has a white winter coat and is then known as an ermine

Word History and Origins

Origin of stoat¹

1425–75; late Middle English stote < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of stoat¹

C15: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Jose saw this stoat jump mid-air as an "expression of exuberance" as the small mammal hurled itself around in a fresh snowfall.

From BBC

In 2005, several kiwis were placed in the Maungatautari sanctuary in a last-ditch effort to prevent them from being hunted to extinction by predators like stoats and ferrets.

From New York Times

Starting in the 1800s, millions were slaughtered by nonnative predators like stoats, a mammal related to the weasel.

From New York Times

On the brink of extinction from imported predators, a few last kākāpō were evacuated to three tiny islets around New Zealand to live free from pests like cats and stoats.

From National Geographic

A project to eradicate stoats from Orkney could take another five years and cost a further £8m to complete, it has been claimed.

From BBC