weasel
[ wee-zuh l ]
/ ˈwi zəl /
noun, plural wea·sels, (especially collectively) wea·sel.
verb (used without object)
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Weasel Words And Other Ways We Avoid Telling The TruthMost of us know what the word lying means, but what happens when someone carefully skirts the truth instead of telling a bold-faced whopper? Politicians, in particular, are well known for making use of equivocal language as a way of hiding their true actions.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
wearingly, wearisome, wearproof, weary, weasand, weasel, weasel out, weasel word, weasel words, weaselly, weather
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples 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 Formsweaselly, adjective
Word Origin for weasel
Old English weosule, wesle; related to Old Norse visla, Old High German wisula, Middle Dutch wesel
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