polecat

enUK

pole·cat

P0409500 (pōl′kăt′)n.1. a. A chiefly nocturnal mustelid mammal (Mustela putorius) of Europe that ejects a malodorous fluid to mark its territory and defend itself from predators. Also called fitch.b. Either of two similar mammals, Mustela eversmanii of the Central Asian steppes, having a light brown coat with a black mask, or Vormela peregusna of Eurasia, having a mottled yellow and brown coat.2. See skunk.

[Middle English polcat : possibly Old French poll, poule, fowl, hen; see pullet + Middle English cat, cat; see cat.]

polecat

(ˈpəʊlˌkæt) n, pl -cats or -cat1. (Animals) Also called (formerly): foumart or foulmart a dark brown musteline mammal, Mustela putorius, of woodlands of Europe, Asia, and N Africa, that is closely related to but larger than the weasel and gives off an unpleasant smell. See also sweet marten2. (Animals) any of various related animals, such as the marbled polecat,Vormela peregusna3. (Animals) US a nontechnical name for skunk¹[C14 polcat, perhaps from Old French pol cock, from Latin pullus, + cat¹; from its habit of preying on poultry]

pole•cat

(ˈpoʊlˌkæt)

n., pl. -cats, (esp. collectively) -cat. 1. a European weasel, Mustela putorius, having blackish fur and ejecting a fetid fluid when attacked or disturbed. Compare ferret ¹ (def. 1). 2. any of various North American skunks. [1275–1325; Middle English polcat, perhaps = Middle French pol, poul chicken (< Latin pullus) + cat]

Polecat

Polecat is the common name for a weasel-like carnivore, but colloquially it referred to a skunk.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	polecat - American musteline mammal typically ejecting an intensely malodorous fluid when startled; in some classifications put in a separate subfamily Mephitinaewood pussy, skunkmustelid, musteline, musteline mammal - fissiped fur-bearing carnivorous mammalsMephitis mephitis, striped skunk - most common and widespread North American skunkhooded skunk, Mephitis macroura - of Mexico and southernmost parts of southwestern United Statesbadger skunk, Conepatus leuconotus, hognosed skunk, hog-nosed skunk, rooter skunk - large naked-muzzled skunk with white back and tail; of southwestern North America and Mexicolittle spotted skunk, Spilogale putorius, spotted skunk - small skunk with a marbled black and white coat; of United States and Mexico
	2.	polecat - dark brown mustelid of woodlands of Eurasia that gives off an unpleasant odor when threatenedfitch, foulmart, foumart, Mustela putoriusmustelid, musteline, musteline mammal - fissiped fur-bearing carnivorous mammalsgenus Mustela, Mustela - type genus of the family Mustelidae: minks and weaselsferret - domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for hunting rats and rabbits

Translations

臭鼬鸡貂

polecat

(ˈpəulkat) noun1. a kind of large weasel. 鸡貂2. (American) a skunk. 臭鼬

polecat

enUK

polecat,

carnivorous mammal of the weaselweasel,
name for certain small, lithe, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae (weasel family). Members of this family are generally characterized by long bodies and necks, short legs, small rounded ears, and medium to long tails.
..... Click the link for more information. family. The name refers especially to the common Old World polecat, Mustela putorius, found in wooded areas of N Eurasia and N Africa. Similar to weasels, but larger and with longer fur, polecats grow to nearly 2 ft (60 cm) long, including the 6-in. (15-cm) tail. The fur, sold under the name fitch and much used in the early 19th cent., is dark brown above, with yellow patches on the ears and face. The belly, feet, and tail are nearly black. Like other members of its family, polecats have a scent gland under the tail which emits a fetid secretion used for territorial marking; the gland is most active when the animals are alarmed. Solitary, nocturnal animals, they spend the day in dens. They feed on small animals and eggs and are quite destructive to poultry and small game. Farmers have exterminated polecats in many areas, but they still survive in wilder places over most of their former range. Protection in some countries has enabled them to recover and reclaim some of their former range. Domesticated strains of polecat have been developed for hunting; these are called ferretferret,
name for a domesticated polecat, Mustela putorius, common in the Old World. It has been used for centuries to hunt rats, mice, and rabbits. Domestic ferrets are found in many color types including albinos, brown, and black.
..... Click the link for more information. , a name also applied to a wild polecat species of North America. The marbled polecat and striped polecat (see zorillazorilla,
small, carnivorous, nocturnal mammal, Ictonyx striatus, of the weasel family, found in dry regions of Africa. It is also called striped weasel and striped polecat.
..... Click the link for more information. ) are related animals of Africa and W Asia. The skunkskunk,
name for several related New World mammals of the weasel family, characterized by their conspicuous black and white markings and use of a strong, highly offensive odor for defense.
..... Click the link for more information. , a New World member of the weasel family, is called polecat in some regions. Polecats are classified in the phylum ChordataChordata
, phylum of animals having a notochord, or dorsal stiffening rod, as the chief internal skeletal support at some stage of their development. Most chordates are vertebrates (animals with backbones), but the phylum also includes some small marine invertebrate animals.
..... Click the link for more information. , subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Mustelidae.

polecat

1. a dark brown musteline mammal, Mustela putorius, of woodlands of Europe, Asia, and N Africa, that is closely related to but larger than the weasel and gives off an unpleasant smell 2. any of various related animals, such as the marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna 3. US a nontechnical name for skunk

polecat

pole·cat

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pole•cat

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Synonyms for polecat

noun American musteline mammal typically ejecting an intensely malodorous fluid when startled

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noun dark brown mustelid of woodlands of Eurasia that gives off an unpleasant odor when threatened

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