weasel

[ wee-zuhl ]

noun

, plural wea·sels, (especially collectively) wea·sel.

1. any small carnivore of the genus Mustela, of the family Mustelidae, having a long, slender body and feeding chiefly on small rodents.
2. any of various similar animals of the family Mustelidae.
3. a cunning, sneaky person.
4. a tracked vehicle resembling a tractor, used in snow.
5. Slang. an informer; stool pigeon.

verb (used without object)

1. to evade an obligation, duty, or the like; renege (often followed by out ):

   That's one invitation I'd like to weasel out of.

2. to use weasel words; be ambiguous; mislead:

   Upon cross-examination the witness began to weasel.

3. Slang. to inform.

weasel

/ ˈwiːzəl /

noun

1. any of various small predatory musteline mammals of the genus Mustela and related genera, esp M. nivalis ( European weasel ), having reddish-brown fur, an elongated body and neck, and short legs
2. informal.
   a sly or treacherous person
3. a motor vehicle for use in snow, esp one with caterpillar tracks

Derived Forms

• ˈweaselly, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of weasel¹

before 900; 1920–25 weasel fordef 6; Middle English wesele, Old English wesle, weosule; cognate with Old High German wisula, German Wiesel

Word History and Origins

Origin of weasel¹

Old English weosule, wesle; related to Old Norse visla, Old High German wisula, Middle Dutch wesel

Example Sentences

When he even pretended to be moderate on abortion with his weasel words around the Florida ban, anti-choice activists threw a fit.

From Salon

While Ms Cross said Trump was trying to "weasel" his way out of the debate by attacking the network, Mr O'Connell said the Republican nominee would show up regardless for what is set to be a major moment.

From BBC

He’s a weasel with a sword, the drunken-samurai trope like the tragic buffoon Kikuchiyo, portrayed by the great Toshiro Mifune in the Akira Kurosawa classic “Seven Samurai.”

From Los Angeles Times

Rasmussen’s promotion of its vaccine-related balderdash is replete with weasel words, as if the firm is opting for plausible deniability.

From Los Angeles Times

In a series of tweets, he called Mr Vine a “weasel” and a “government shill” and said: “If you see this fella by a primary school call 999.”

From BBC