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

Organisers hope that within two years it can transition into the 'mop-up' phase, meaning that the stoat population has reached a critical tipping point in Orkney.

From BBC

This allowed the stoat population to rebound to pre-eradication levels undoing the previous progress.

From BBC

This meant the project has taken a more active approach to trapping, using Europe's first stoat detection dogs on the frontline earlier than expected.

From BBC

Decked out at one point in a velvet blazer and turtleneck, hair teased into the likeness of a dead stoat, Robey is less demented sadist than disco king.

From New York Times