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

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

In fact, they said, a close relative was a big fan of wild animals that had been stuffed and mounted — they had mountain lions, a wolverine and wolves in a “trophy room.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"I saw the wolverine picture on the surface and I thought it was going to be in the cave and eat us."

Read more on BBC

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.

Read more on Salon

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It sounds like a wolverine being burned alive.”

Read more on Literature