musteline

[ muhs-tl-ahyn, -in ]
/ ˈmʌs tlˌaɪn, -ɪn /

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the family Mustelidae, including the martens, skunks, minks, weasels, badgers, and otters.
resembling a weasel.
tawny or brown, like a weasel in summer.

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Origin of musteline

1650–60; < Latin mustēlīnus, equivalent to mustēl(a) weasel + -īnus -ine1

Words nearby musteline

mustard oil, mustard operation, mustard plaster, mustee, mustelid, musteline, muster, muster day, muster in, muster roll, musth
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for musteline

  • The small mandibular ramus of a musteline referred by Dr. Roth to Mephitis suffocans, does not pertain to this genus and species.

    Through the Heart of Patagonia|H. Hesketh Prichard

British Dictionary definitions for musteline

musteline
/ (ˈmʌstɪˌlaɪn, -lɪn) /

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Mustelidae, a family of typically predatory mammals including weasels, ferrets, minks, polecats, badgers, skunks, and otters: order Carnivora (carnivores)

noun

any musteline animal

Word Origin for musteline

C17: from Latin mustēlīnus, from mustēla weasel, from mūs mouse + -tēla, of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012