polecat

American  

[pohl-kat] / ˈpoʊlˌkæt /

noun

PLURAL

polecats,

PLURAL

polecat

1. a European mammal, Mustela putorius, of the weasel family, having a blackish fur and ejecting a fetid fluid when attacked or disturbed.

2. any of various North American skunks.

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polecat British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of polecat

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

Example Sentences

They share a common ancestor with the European polecat, from which the type of ferret found in pet stores was domesticated more than 2,000 years ago to hunt rabbits and control rodents.

From Scientific American

In 2018, The Government's 25-year Environment Plan stated the reintroduction of native species such as otters and polecats was "key" to nature's recovery.

From BBC

However, it is good news for the otter, pine marten, polecat and badger, which have all seen their populations and geographical range spread.

From BBC

I can’t deny that I’ve watched the polecat sequence upwards of a dozen times, but Miller’s film truly comes alive in Furiosa’s howl of desperation, and in Max’s noble disappearance into the throng.

From The Guardian

Twitter erupted into a menagerie full of dolphins, polecats, aardvarks and Irish wolfhounds.

From New York Times