weasel

American  

[wee-zuhl] / ˈwi zəl /

noun

plural

weasels,

plural

weasel

1. any small carnivore of the genus Mustela, of the family Mustelidae, having a long, slender body and feeding chiefly on small rodents.

2. any of various similar animals of the family Mustelidae.

3. a cunning, sneaky person.

4. a tracked vehicle resembling a tractor, used in snow.

5. Slang. an informer; stool pigeon.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to evade an obligation, duty, or the like; renege (often followed byout ).

   That's one invitation I'd like to weasel out of.

2. to use weasel words; be ambiguous; mislead.

   Upon cross-examination the witness began to weasel.

3. Slang. to inform.

weasel British  

/ ˈwiːzəl /

noun

1. any of various small predatory musteline mammals of the genus Mustela and related genera, esp M. nivalis ( European weasel ), having reddish-brown fur, an elongated body and neck, and short legs

2. informal a sly or treacherous person

3. a motor vehicle for use in snow, esp one with caterpillar tracks

---

Other Word Forms

• weaselly adjective

Etymology

Origin of weasel

before 900; 1920–25 weasel for def. 6; Middle English wesele, Old English wesle, weosule; cognate with Old High German wisula, German Wiesel

Example Sentences

“But when universities do the same thing by trying to weasel out of their contracts, it’s equally corrosive.”

From The Wall Street Journal

And with quarterback Dylan Raiola out for the second half with an injury, USC was able to limit Johnson just enough to weasel its way back into the game.

From Los Angeles Times

His screen persona has often been the sleaziest of weasels, the connoisseur’s moral degenerate.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rather than make direct claims about cures, supplement promoters resort to vague boasts about their products using what the Canadian researchers identify as weasel words that can foster the impression of efficacy.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From The Wall Street Journal