marten

American  

[mahr-tn] / ˈmɑr tn /

noun

plural

martens,

plural

marten

1. any of several slender, chiefly arboreal carnivores of the genus Martes, of northern forests, having a long, glossy coat and bushy tail.

2. the fur of such an animal, generally a dark brown.

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marten British  

/ ˈmɑːtɪn /

noun

1. any of several agile arboreal musteline mammals of the genus Martes, of Europe, Asia, and North America, having bushy tails and golden brown to blackish fur See also pine marten

2. the highly valued fur of these animals, esp that of M. americana

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Etymology

Origin of marten

1375–1425; < Middle Low German, equivalent to mart marten (cognate with Old English mearth ) + -en -en ⁵; replacing late Middle English martren < Middle French martrine marten fur, noun use of feminine of martrin pertaining to a marten, equivalent to martre marten (< Germanic; compare German Marder ) + -in -in ¹

Example Sentences

A pine marten has been caught on camera in Cornwall in what conservationists hope could be the start of a comeback in the county.

From BBC

No foxes or pine martens had gone near it; no ravens had feasted here.

From Literature

I have seen rabbits outwit foxes and watched red squirrels tease martens and get away with it, but this time it was not to be.

From Literature

Their plans include bringing in large herbivores including ponies, hardy cattle and eventually even bison to graze the land naturally, and there are hopes pine martens, beavers and golden eagles could recolonise the landscape.

From BBC

As well as working with police, Henry also helps conservationists with "ecological monitoring", including for pine martens, hedgehogs, otters and water voles.

From BBC