mustelid

[muhs-tl-id]

noun

1. any of numerous carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, comprising the weasels, martens, skunks, badgers, and otters.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the family Mustelidae.

mustelid

1. Any of various small to midsize carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, usually having long, slender bodies, short legs, and well-developed anal scent glands. The pelts of many mustelids have been important for use in clothing. Weasels, skunks, badgers, wolverines, ferrets, mink, martens, and otters are mustelids.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mustelid¹

1905–10; < New Latin Mustelidae family name, equivalent to Mustel ( a ) a genus ( Latin mustēla weasel) + -idae -id ²

Example Sentences

That means eradicating invasive species such as possums, rats and mustelids—a group that includes weasels, ferrets and stoats.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It's a super rare mutation," says Stankowich, who has studied mustelids, a group that includes badgers, minks, and weasels.

Read more on National Geographic

Otters primarily eat fish and are taxonomically part of the mustelid family along with weasels, badgers and wolverines.

Read more on Washington Times

A wolverine was spotted three times recently in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, the second mustelid mammal specimen spotted in the state in the past century.

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If your husband can simply say, “Please, I don’t want a ferret,” you must give up your mustelid dreams.

Read more on New York Times