weasel
[ wee-zuhl ]
/ ˈwi zəl /
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noun, plural wea·sels, (especially collectively) wea·sel.
verb (used without object)
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of weasel
before 900; 1920–25 for def. 6; Middle English wesele, Old English wesle, weosule; cognate with Old High German wisula, German Wiesel
Words nearby weasel
wear thin, wear two hats, wear well, weary, weasand, weasel, weaselly, weasel out, weasel word, weasel words, weather
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for weasel
British Dictionary definitions for weasel
weasel
/ (ˈwiːzəl) /
noun plural -sels or -sel
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
informal a sly or treacherous person
mainly US a motor vehicle for use in snow, esp one with caterpillar tracks
Derived forms of weasel
weaselly, adjectiveWord Origin for weasel
Old English weosule, wesle; related to Old Norse visla, Old High German wisula, Middle Dutch wesel
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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