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black-footed ferret
noun
: a rare weasel (Mustela nigripes) of western North American prairies having a yellowish coat, dark feet and facial mask, and a dark-tipped tail
Examples of black-footed ferret in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2020, conservationists achieved a major milestone with the birth of a black-footed ferret named Elizabeth Ann, who was the first clone of Willa.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
The search is on:Scouring the Arizona desert for black-footed ferrets
'Little vampires' try to adapt to habitat
Prairie dogs make up roughly 90% of a black-footed ferret’s diet and provide their only source of shelter.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 23 Sep. 2024
The nonprofit is acquiring slices of crucial habitat to help connect existing public lands in north-central Montana, restoring America’s vast shortgrass prairie and providing a home for everything from bison and pronghorn antelope to grizzly bears, black-footed ferrets, and sage grouse.
—Outside Online, 26 Sep. 2024
Individual black-footed ferrets typically require 130 acres of prairie dogs to provide them with sufficient prey, according to Jackson.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 23 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1846, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of black-footed ferret was
in 1846
Dictionary Entries Near black-footed ferret
Cite this Entry
“Black-footed ferret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-footed%20ferret. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
black-footed ferret
noun
black-foot·ed ferret
ˈblak-ˌfu̇t-əd-
: an endangered weasel of western North American prairies having a yellowish coat, black feet and face markings, and a black-tipped tail
More from Merriam-Webster on black-footed ferret
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about black-footed ferret
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