ermine
English
/ˈɜːmɪn/, /ˈɝmɪn/
noun
Definitions
- A weasel, Mustela erminea, found in northern latitudes; its dark brown fur turns white in winter (apart from the black tip of the tail).
- The white fur of this animal, traditionally seen as a symbol of purity and used for judges' robes.
- (by extension) The office of a judge.
- (tincture) A white field with black spots.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English ermine derived from Old French ermin derived from Proto-Germanic *harmǭ derived from Proto-Indo-European *ḱormō derived from Latin mūs Armenius.
Origin
Latin
mūs Armenius
Gloss
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- counter-ermine English
- ermined English
- erminelike English
- mūs Armenius Latin
- Harm German
- harmlos German
- härmen German
- hermelijn Dutch, Flemish
- hermelijnen Dutch, Flemish
- hermelijnkoorts Dutch, Flemish
- hermine French
- *ḱormō Proto-Indo-European
- *harmô Proto-Germanic
- *harmǭ Proto-Germanic
- hearma Old English
- ermine Middle English
- ermyn Middle English
- ermin Old French
- hermelijn Middle Dutch
- harmilī Old High German
- harmo Old High German
- hermelyn Afrikaans
- harm Middle High German
- *harmin-, *harmo Frankish