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

The robe of state, worn by Claire Foy, is red velvet and ermine, and we obviously couldn’t use ermine now, so had to find fake fur.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2024

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

As they enter Westminster Abbey, the soon-to-be-crowned sovereign wears a long red velvet robe of state, adorned with hand embroidered gold lace, and lined in expensive white fur called ermine.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2023

But there will be more to the weekend than crowns, scepters and ermine robes.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 21, 2023

He was standing with his arms out straight while they draped him with ermine, velvet, samite, brocade, and cloth of gold.

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin