pine marten

American  

noun

1. a marten, Martes martes, of Europe and western Asia.

2. Also called American marten.  a marten, Martes americana, inhabiting forests of the U.S. and Canada.

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pine marten British  

noun

1. a marten, Martes martes, of N European and Asian coniferous woods, having dark brown fur with a creamy-yellow patch on the throat See also sweet marten

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Etymology

Origin of pine marten

First recorded in 1760–70

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 • Mar. 24, 2026

"The pine marten is a good example of how a species can recover if people stop killing them, you provide more habitat and you direct conservation efforts," said Lizzie Croose of the Vincent Wildlife Trust.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2023

While ours are the only ski tracks, they cross a multitude of wolf, bison, snowshoe hare, coyote, ermine and pine marten tracks.

From Washington Post • Feb. 25, 2022

The Croatian kuna is named after the pine marten, whose pelts were once a valuable trading commodity.

From Reuters • Feb. 7, 2022

After him came a pine marten, following swiftly, catching the scent of his game, not from the bark or the ground, but apparently from the air.

From Wilderness Ways by Copeland, Charles