ermine

American  

[ur-min] / ˈɜr mɪn /

noun

plural

ermines,

plural

ermine

1. an Old World weasel, Mustela erminea, having in its winter color phase a white coat with black at the tip of the tail.

2. any of various weasels having a white winter coat.

3. the lustrous, white, winter fur of the ermine, often having fur from the animal's black tail tip inserted at intervals for contrast.

4. the rank, position, or status of a king, peer, or judge, especially one in certain European countries who wears, or formerly wore, a robe trimmed with ermine, as on official or state occasions.

5. Heraldry. a fur, consisting of a conventional representation of tails, often with a pattern of dots, sable on argent.

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adjective

1. made of, covered, or adorned with ermine.

ermine British  

/ ˈɜːmɪn /

noun

1. the stoat in northern regions, where it has a white winter coat with a black-tipped tail

2. the fur of this animal

3. one of the two principal furs used on heraldic shields, conventionally represented by a white field flecked with black ermine tails Compare vair

4. the dignity or office of a judge, noble, or king

5. short for ermine moth

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Other Word Forms

• ermined adjective
• unermined adjective

Etymology

Origin of ermine

1150–1200; Middle English < Old French ( h ) ermine, noun use of feminine of ( h ) ermin (masculine adj.) < Latin Armenius, short for Armenius ( mūs ) Armenian (rat)

Explanation

An ermine is a small, wild weasel. Ermines, like minks and sables, have very soft fur and they’re all part of the mustelid family which also includes otters, badgers, and wolverines! You're likely to come across the noun ermine in connection with the way humans use them — in some areas of the world, they are commonly raised or hunted for their fur, which is prized for its softness and can be made into coats or hats. Another word for an ermine is a stoat. A coat made from an ermine's skin is also called an ermine.

Example Sentences

For special occasions, the royals donned crowns and ermine robes.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2024

Nicky Morgan stayed on as Boris Johnson's culture secretary for several months after standing down as an MP at the 2019 election, taking the ermine and becoming Baroness Morgan in the process.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2023

It features a purple velvet cap, ermine band and criss-crossed arches topped by a cross.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2023

Weighing five pounds, with a velvet cap and band of ermine fur, the crown includes a dazzling array of rubies, amethysts, sapphires, topazes, tourmalines and garnet.

From Salon • May 5, 2023

This was the sort of question Mrs. Snell slipped into as if it were an ermine coat.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger