weasel

weasel
{{11}}weasel (n.) O.E. weosule, wesle "weasel," from P.Gmc. *wisulon (Cf. O.N. visla, M.Du. wesel, Du. wezel, O.H.G. wisula, Ger. Wiesel), probably related to P.Gmc. *wisand- "bison" (see BISON (Cf. bison)), with a base sense of "stinking animal," because both animals have a foul, musky smell (Cf. L. vissio "stench"). A John Wesilheued ("John Weaselhead") turns up on the Lincolnshire Assize Rolls for 1384, but the name seems not to have endured, for some reason.
{{12}}weasel (v.) "to deprive (a word or phrase) of its meaning," 1900, from WEASEL (Cf. weasel) (n.); so used because the weasel sucks out the contents of eggs, leaving the shell intact; the sense of "extricate oneself (from a difficult place) like a weasel" is first recorded 1925; that of "to evade and equivocate" is from 1956.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Weasel — Wea sel, n. [OE. wesele, AS. wesle; akin to D. wezel, G. wiesel, OHG. wisala, Icel. hreyiv[=i]sla, Dan. v[ a]sel, Sw. vessla; of uncertain origin; cf. Gr. ?, ?, cat, weasel.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of various species of small carnivores belonging to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • weasel — [wē′zəl] n. pl. weasels or weasel [ME wesel < OE wesle, akin to Ger wiesel, prob. < IE base * weis , to flow out (with reference to the rank odor emitted by the animal) > VIRUS, BISON] 1. any of various agile musteline carnivores (esp.… …   English World dictionary

  • weasel — [n] sneak betrayer, blabbermouth*, canary*, deceiver, deep throat*, doublecrosser, fink*, informant, informer, narc*, nark*, rat*, sneak, snitch, snitcher, source, squealer*, stoolie*, stool pigeon*, tattler, tattletale, tipster*, turncoat,… …   New thesaurus

  • weasel — ► NOUN 1) a small slender carnivorous mammal related to the stoat, with reddish brown fur. 2) informal a deceitful or treacherous person. ► VERB (weaselled, weaselling; US weaseled, weaseling) ▪ achieve through cunning or deceit …   English terms dictionary

  • Weasel — For other uses, see Weasel (disambiguation). Weasel Least Weasel Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • weasel — /wee zeuhl/, n., pl. weasels, (esp. collectively) weasel, v. n. 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… …   Universalium

  • weasel — I. noun (plural weasels) Etymology: Middle English wesele, from Old English weosule; akin to Old High German wisula weasel Date: before 12th century 1. or plural weasel any of various small slender active carnivorous mammals (genus Mustela of the …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Weasel — M29 Weasel Le M29 Weasel est un véhicule automobile chenillé créé et utilisé par l armée américaine pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Sa conception amphibie le prédestinait aux régions marécageuses. Il fut utilisé par le Corps expéditionnaire… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • weasel — v. (colloq.) (AE) (d; intr.) to weasel out of ( to evade ) (to weasel out of one s obligations) * * * [ wiːz(ə)l] (colloq.) (AE) (d; intr.) to weasel out of (to weasel out of one s obligations; to evade ) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • weasel — wea|sel1 [ˈwi:zəl] n [: Old English; Origin: weosule] a small thin furry animal that kills and eats rats and birds weasel 2 weasel2 v past tense and past participle weaselled present participle weaselling BrE past tense and past participle… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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