polecat

American  

[pohl-kat] / ˈpoʊlˌkæt /

noun

plural

polecats,

plural

polecat

1. a European mammal, Mustela putorius, of the weasel family, having a blackish fur and ejecting a fetid fluid when attacked or disturbed.

2. any of various North American skunks.

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polecat British  

/ ˈpəʊlˌkæt /

noun

1. Also called (formerly): foumart.  a dark brown musteline mammal, Mustela putorius, of woodlands of Europe, Asia, and N Africa, that is closely related to but larger than the weasel and gives off an unpleasant smell See also sweet marten

2. any of various related animals, such as the marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna

3. a nontechnical name for skunk

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Etymology

Origin of polecat

1275–1325; Middle English polcat, perhaps equivalent to Middle French pol, poul “chicken” (< Latin pullus ) + cat ( def. )

Example Sentences

One of the ferrets is described as a sable polecat ferret, and the other is a silver ferret.

From BBC • Nov. 1, 2023

Other species that have gotten infected around the world include a badger, bobcat, coyote, dolphin, ferret, fisher cat, fox, lynx, opossum, otter, pig, polecat, porpoise, raccoon, raccoon dog and multiple minks and seals.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2023

Two bobcats in Wisconsin, a coyote pup in Michigan and skunks in Canada have also tested positive for the virus, as have foxes, otters, a lynx, a polecat and a badger in Europe.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2022

I can’t deny that I’ve watched the polecat sequence upwards of a dozen times, but Miller’s film truly comes alive in Furiosa’s howl of desperation, and in Max’s noble disappearance into the throng.

From The Guardian • May 29, 2018

He grinned broadly at them and headed off to the staff table, still swinging the polecat.

From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling