polecat

polecat
polecat (n.) early 14c., first element is probably Anglo-Fr. pol, from O.Fr. poule "fowl, hen," so called because it preys on poultry. The other alternative is that the first element is from O.Fr. pulent "stinking," for obvious reasons. Originally the European Putorius foetidus; also applied to related U.S. skunks since 1680s.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
, , , , , (Mustela putorius) / , (Mustela vison)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Polecat — may refer to: * One of several species of weasel: ** Marbled Polecat ** Steppe Polecat ** Striped Polecat ** European Polecat * Skunks, or other members of the Mephitidae family * Civets, mostly nocturnal mammals found in Africa, Asia, and the… …   Wikipedia

  • polecat — [pōl′kat΄] n. pl. polecats or polecat [ME polcat, prob. < OFr poule (see POULTRY) + CAT1] 1. any of several small, Old World weasels, usually having anal glands that eject foul smelling fluid when the animal is in danger, esp. one (Mustela… …   English World dictionary

  • Polecat — Pole cat , n. [Probably fr. F. poule hen, and originally, a poultry cat, because it feeds on poultry. See {Poultry}.] (Zo[ o]l.) (a) A small European carnivore of the Weasel family ({Putorius f[oe]tidus}). Its scent glands secrete a substance of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • polecat — ► NOUN 1) a weasel like mammal with dark brown fur and an unpleasant smell. 2) N. Amer. a skunk. ORIGIN perhaps from Old French pole chicken + CAT(Cf. ↑catlike) …   English terms dictionary

  • polecat — /pohl kat /, n., pl. polecats, (esp. collectively) polecat. 1. a European mammal, Mustela putorius, of the weasel family, having a blackish fur and ejecting a fetid fluid when attacked or disturbed. Cf. ferret1 (def. 1). 2. any of various North… …   Universalium

  • Polecat — Dieser Artikel oder Abschnitt ist nicht hinreichend mit Belegen (Literatur, Webseiten oder Einzelnachweisen) versehen. Die fraglichen Angaben werden daher möglicherweise demnächst gelöscht. Hilf Wikipedia, indem du die Angaben recherchierst und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • polecat — n. a mean and deceitful person, usually male. (Folksy. Polecat is another U.S. word for skunk. See also skunk; stinker.) □ You dirty polecat! □ Tell that polecat I want to talk to him …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • polecat — UK [ˈpəʊlˌkæt] / US [ˈpoʊlˌkæt] noun [countable] Word forms polecat : singular polecat plural polecats a small European or Asian wild animal that produces an unpleasant smell …   English dictionary

  • polecat — tamsusis šeškas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Mustela putorius angl. European polecat; fitchew; polecat vok. europäischer Iltis; europäischer Waldiltis; Iltis; Stinkmarder; Waldiltis rus. лесной… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • polecat — noun (plural polecats or polecat) Etymology: Middle English polcat, probably from Middle French poul, pol cock + Middle English cat; probably from its preying on poultry more at pullet Date: 14th century 1. any of several carnivorous mammals (as… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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