polecat

noun

pole·​cat ˈpōl-ˌkat 

plural polecats or polecat

1

: any of several carnivorous mammals (as of the genera Mustela or Vormela) of the weasel family

especially : a brown to black European mammal (M. putorius) from which the domesticated ferret is derived

2

: skunk

Examples of polecat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Black-footed ferrets, also known as American polecats or prairie dog hunters, are among some of the most endangered mammals in the country. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

Otherwise, striped polecats are aggressive with each other. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

Scientists suspect that the secretions also make the striped polecat taste awful. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

If there are fewer small mammals, there is less food for their natural predators, such as red foxes, steppe polecats, upland buzzards, brown bears and mountain weasels. —Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 24 May 2023

As with the rest of the car, the face reflects sublimated aggression, as if the polecat has eaten the canary. —Ronald Ahrens, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2022

Unlike a poison frog or a spraying polecat, this rodent has no chemical weapons to defend itself. —Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2015

Iltis is the German word for a polecat, Mustela putorius, a forest-dwelling European mammal that's like a weasel, minus the charisma. —Brendan McAleer, Car and Driver, 2 Oct. 2022

Two bobcats in Wisconsin, a coyote pup in Michigan and skunks in Canada have also tested positive for the virus, as have foxes, otters, a lynx, a polecat and a badger in Europe. —New York Times, 18 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English polcat, probably from Middle French poul, pol cock + Middle English cat; probably from its preying on poultry — more at pullet

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

polecat

noun

pole·​cat ˈpōl-ˌkat 

plural polecats or polecat

1

: a brown to black European flesh-eating mammal related to the weasels

2

: skunk entry 1 sense 1

Etymology

Middle English polcat "polecat," probably from early French pol, poul "cock" and Middle English cat "cat, a small animal"

Word Origin

A polecat is not a cat at all, and its name has nothing to do with poles. The European polecat looks like a large weasel with a bandit's mask of darker fur around its eyes. The polecat has long been known as a killer of poultry, and its name reflects its reputation. Polecat was spelled polcat in Middle English. This word was probably formed from pol or poul, the early French word for "cock," and the Middle English word cat. During the Middle English period people often gave the name cat to small animals, like the polecat, that looked something like the ordinary house cat.