Mustela

noun

Mus·​te·​la

ˌməˈstēlə

: a genus of carnivorous mammals (the type of the family Mustelidae) comprising active predators and valuable furbearers

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, weasel, probably from mus mouse + -tela (origin unknown)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!