wolverine

[ wool-vuh-reen, wool-vuh-reen ]

noun

1. Also called carcajou. a stocky, carnivorous North American mammal, Gulo luscus, of the weasel family, having blackish, shaggy hair with white markings.
2. (initial capital letter) a native or inhabitant of Michigan (the Wolverine State) (used as a nickname).

wolverine

/ ˈwʊlvəˌriːn /

noun

1. a large musteline mammal, Gulo gulo, of northern forests of Eurasia and North America having dark very thick water-resistant fur Also calledglutton

Word History and Origins

Origin of wolverine¹

1565–75; alteration of earlier wolvering (with -ine ² for -ing ³ ), obscure derivative of wolf

Word History and Origins

Origin of wolverine¹

C16 wolvering, from wolf + -ing ³ (later altered to -ine )

Example Sentences

And of course, some species will never do well in fragments — for instance, wide-ranging creatures like grizzly bears, mountain lions and wolverines, who each require large territories without competition from others of their kind.

From Salon

Those who want to see wolverines reintroduced to California were dealt a setback this week.

From Los Angeles Times

“It sounds like a wolverine being burned alive.”

From Literature

The agencies also responded to concerns about grizzlies’ impacts on livestock, and on threatened species like wolverines and salmon, as well as hikers.

From Seattle Times

Proposed legislation seeks to reintroduce wolverines to California, which lacks a permanent population of the protected animals.

From Los Angeles Times