wolverine

[ woo l-vuh-reen, woo l-vuh-reen ]

/ ˌwʊl vəˈrin, ˈwʊl vəˌrin /

noun

Also called carcajou. a stocky, carnivorous North American mammal, Gulo luscus, of the weasel family, having blackish, shaggy hair with white markings.

(initial capital letter) a native or inhabitant of Michigan (the Wolverine State) (used as a nickname).

Nearby words

wolseley, wolsey, wolsey, thomas, wolver, wolverhampton, wolverine, wolverine state, wolves, wolves in sheep's clothing, woman, woman about town

Origin of wolverine

1565–75; alteration of earlier wolvering (with -ine² for -ing³), obscure derivative of wolf

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wolverine

The co-owner of Metropolis Collectables, Vincent has Wolverine mutton chops, a Tony Stark goatee, and Lex Luthor swagger.
The Holy Grail of Comic Books Hid in Plain Site at New York Comic Con|Sujay Kumar|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hugh Jackman has been Wolverine in the movies and the flashy Boy From Oz on stage.
Fall Broadway Preview: 'This Is Our Youth,' Bradley Cooper as ‘The Elephant Man,' and More|Janice Kaplan|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The most credible scientific data on wolverine behavior documents an absolute dependence on “persistent spring snow habitat.”
Who Will Save the Wolverine? Not the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service|Doug Peacock|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“X-men Origins: Wolverine” featured a pharmaceutical plot twist so inane it was almost awesome.
Scandal’s Finale Featured One of the Most Preposterous TV Deaths Ever|Russell Saunders|April 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The line I keep saying is that nobody goes around saying, “Hey, Iron Man has a better sense of humor than Wolverine.”
The Makers of ‘Mean Girls’ and ‘Heathers’ Discuss ‘Vampire Academy’ and Coming-of-Age Movies|Daniel Waters, Mark Waters|February 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the wolverine laughed and said: 'Oh, that will do just as well'; and began to run down the side of the mountain.
The Brown Fairy Book|Andrew Lang
Whether the wolverine knows poison, he is too wary to experiment on doubtful diet.
The Story of the Trapper|A. C. Laut
In fact, in general colour and the arrangement of his hair, he is not unlike a badger or wolverine.
The Bush Boys|Captain Mayne Reid
"It isn't a wolverine, and it isn't a fisher, and it isn't a coyote," Koot told himself.
The Story of the Trapper|A. C. Laut
The wolverine had not had much time to kill the latter ere the wolves were upon him, and so he was not very much torn.
Three Boys in the Wild North Land|Egerton Ryerson Young

British Dictionary definitions for wolverine

wolverine

/ (ˈwʊlvəˌriːn) /

noun

a large musteline mammal, Gulo gulo, of northern forests of Eurasia and North America having dark very thick water-resistant furAlso called: glutton

Word Origin for wolverine

C16 wolvering, from wolf + -ing ³ (later altered to -ine)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for wolverine

wolverine

carnivorous mammal, 1610s, alteration of wolvering (1570s), of uncertain origin, possibly from wolv-, inflectional stem of wolf; or perhaps from wolver "one who behaves like a wolf" (1590s).

wolverine

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of wolverine

Examples from the Web for wolverine

British Dictionary definitions for wolverine

wolverine

noun

Word Origin for wolverine

Word Origin and History for wolverine

wolverine