fitch

¹ American  

[fich] / fɪtʃ /

Also fitchet

noun

1. the European polecat, Mustela putorius.

2. its fur, often dyed to imitate other furs.

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Fitch ² American  

[fich] / fɪtʃ /

noun

1. John, 1743–98, U.S. inventor: pioneer in development of the steamboat.

2. (William) Clyde, 1865–1909, U.S. playwright.

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fitch British  

/ ˈfɪtʃɪt, fɪtʃ /

noun

1. another name for polecat

2. the fur of the polecat or ferret

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Etymology

Origin of fitch

1400–50; late Middle English fiche, feche, fuche polecat fur < Middle Dutch fisse, visse, vitsche polecat

Example Sentences

At Céline, in addition to the suede jumpsuit, Phoebe Philo offered slouchy leather pants with a color-block turtleneck and a pair of fur wrap coats, one beaver and the other fitch.

From New York Times • Jan. 11, 2012

With youth in mind, and to revive a market that dropped 40% in sales between 1947 and 1967, Kaplan branched out into inexpensive furs like mink paw, fitch and squirrel.

From Time Magazine Archive

In fact, furriers are using everything short of their own hides � Russian fitch, French rabbit, Algerian sand rat, Polish pony, Australian kangaroo and Wyoming buffalo.

From Time Magazine Archive

Katy answered, knowing intuitively the feeling which had prompted this suggestion from her mother-in-law, who hastened to Helen's room with the rich sable she was to wear in place of the old fitch.

From Family Pride Or, Purified by Suffering by Holmes, Mary Jane

Good pup," said Mick, "fitch him out, pup!—What is it—native cat?

From Outback Marriage, an : a story of Australian life by Paterson, A. B. (Andrew Barton)