English Explanatory Dictionary

polecat

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of several long-bodied mammals of the subfamilies Mustelinae and Ictonychinae, both in the weasel family Mustelidae.
  2. Notably, the European polecat, Mustela putorius.
  3. A skunk.
  4. A tubular device used to support lights on a set.

Pronunciation

/ˈpəʊlkæt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-polecat.wav /ˈpoʊlˌkæt/

Word forms

polecat polecats

Etymology

From Middle English polcat, pulkat, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Middle English *pole, *poule (“hen”), from Old French poule (“hen”) + Middle English cat. Compare English foulmart.

Synonyms

fitch foumart

Derived words

European polecat marbled polecat steppe polecat stink like a polecat striped polecat why do polecats look like poles

Translations

Arabic: اِبْن عُرْس مُنْتِن Arabic: فَأْر الْخَيْل Bashkir: көҙән Finnish: kärppä French: putois Georgian: ქრცვინი German: Iltis Hebrew: סַמּוּר Japanese: ケナガイタチ Japanese Sign Language: ケナガイタチ Polish: tchórz Romanian: dihor Scottish Gaelic: feocallan Spanish: turón Ukrainian: тхір Welsh: ffwlbart
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