Lexic.us

Definition of Ermine

1. Noun. The expensive white fur of the ermine.

2. Noun. Mustelid of northern hemisphere in its white winter coat.

Definition of Ermine

1. n. A valuable fur-bearing animal of the genus Mustela (M. erminea), allied to the weasel; the stoat. It is found in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. In summer it is brown, but in winter it becomes white, except the tip of the tail, which is always black.

2. v. t. To clothe with, or as with, ermine.

Definition of Ermine

1. Noun. A weasel, ''Mustela erminea'', found in northern latitudes; its dark brown fur turns white in winter (apart from the black tip of the tail) ¹

2. Noun. The white fur of this animal ¹

3. Noun. (poetic) A symbol of purity ¹

4. Noun. (figuratively) The office of a judge ¹

5. Noun. (heraldry) A white field with black spots ¹

6. Verb. To clothe with ermine ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Ermine

1. the fur of certain weasels [n -S] : ERMINED [adj]

Medical Definition of Ermine

1. 1. A valuable fur-bearing animal of the genus Mustela (M. Erminea), allied to the weasel; the stoat. It is found in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. In summer it is brown, but in winter it becomes white, except the tip of the tail, which is always black. 2. The fur of the ermine, as prepared for ornamenting garments of royalty, etc, by having the tips of the tails, which are black, arranged at regular intervals throughout the white. 3. By metonymy, the office or functions of a judge, whose state robe, lined with ermine, is emblematical of purity and honor without stain. 4. Ermine is represented by an argent field, tufted with black. Ermines is the reverse of ermine, being black, spotted or timbered with argent. Erminois is the same as ermine, except that or is substituted for argent. Ermine moth, a white moth with black spots (especially. Yponomeuta padella of Europe); so called on account of the resemblance of its covering to the fur of the ermine; also applied to certain white bombycid moths of America. Origin: OF. Ermine, F. Hermine, prob. Of German origin; cf. OHG. Harmo, G. Hermelin, akin to Lith. Szarm, szarmonys, weasel, cf. AS. Hearma; but cf. Also LL. Armelinus, armellina, hermellina, and pellis Armenia, the fur of the Armenian rat, mus Armenius, the animal being found also in Armenia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Ermine

erlenmeyer flask erlenmeyer flask deformity erlenmeyer flask mnemonic erlianite erlichmanite erlizumab erlking erlkings erlosamide erlotinib

ermGT methylase erme ermelin ermelins ermilin ermine (current term) ermined erminelike ermines ermining

ermit ermits ern erne erned ernes ernestful ernienickelite erniggliite erning

Literary usage of Ermine

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A History of the Earth, and Animated Nature by Oliver Goldsmith (1816)
"The ermine, or Stoat. Next to the weasel in size, and perfectly alike in figure ... The stoat or ermine, differs from the weasel in size, being usually nine ..."

2. The Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and by Hugh Chisholm (1910)
"The species is a native of the temperate and ermine or Stoat ... The winter coat of the ermine forms one of the most valuable of commercial furs, ..."

3. The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and (1910)
"ermine is shown by a white field necked with black ermine tails, ... In the isth century there was a popular variant of ermine, white tails upon a black ..."

4. A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry by Henry Gough, James Parker (1894)
"Argent, two bars sable, spotted ermine, in chief a lion passant gules— 1111 i.. co. Wexford. D'argent, a cinq hermines de sable ..."

5. Minor Poets of the Caroline Period by George Saintsbury (1906)
"The ermine THE ermine rather chose to die A martyr of its purity, Than that one uncouth soil should stain Its hitherto preserved skin ; And thus resolv'd ..."

6. Report on the Injurious Insects and Other Animals Observed in the Midland by Walter Edward Collinge (1907)
"The life-history is very similar to that of the Apple ermine, and the same preventive and remedial measures apply. THE MEDITERRANEAN FLOUR MOTH. ..."

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