pole·cat (p l k t )n. 1. a. A chiefly nocturnal European carnivorous mammal (Mustela putorius) of the weasel family that ejects a malodorous fluid to mark its territory and ward off enemies. Also called fitch. b. Any of various related mammals of Asia, especially Mustela eversmanni of central Asia. 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, -cat
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) Also called (formerly) foumart 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 marten
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of various related animals, such as the marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna
3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) US a nontechnical name for skunk [1]
[C14 polcat, perhaps from Old French pol cock, from Latin pullus, + cat1; from its habit of preying on poultry]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  polecat - American musteline mammal typically ejecting an intensely malodorous fluid when startled; in some classifications put in a separate subfamily MephitinaeMephitis mephitis, striped skunk - most common and widespread North American skunk hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura - of Mexico and southernmost parts of southwestern United States badger skunk, Conepatus leuconotus, hog-nosed skunk, hognosed skunk, rooter skunk - large naked-muzzled skunk with white back and tail; of southwestern North America and Mexico little 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 threatenedgenus Mustela, Mustela - type genus of the family Mustelidae: minks and weasels ferret - domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for hunting rats and rabbits |
Translations
n polecat [ˈpəulkat]
1 a kind of large weasel. stinkdier فأر خَيْل، إبْن عِرْس пор tchoř ilder der Iltis μεγάλη νυφίτσα turón tõhk نوعی راسوی بزرگ hilleri putois סָמוּר גָדוֹל गन्धमार्जार tvor görény kucing hutan þefvísla, illir puzzola けながいたち 긴털족제비 šeškas sesks sejenis musang bunzing ilder tchórz doninha лесной хорёк tchor dihur tvor iller สัตว์ในตระกูลวีเซิล sansar 雞貂 тхір чорний ايک قسم کا بڑا نيولا chồn hôi 鸡貂
2 (American) a skunk. muishond شَخْص دَنيء ، شيء قذر скункс skunk skunk das Stinktier κουνάβι mofeta skunk راسوی بد بو haisunäätä mouffette בּוֹאֶש skunk szkunksz segung skunkur moffetta スカンク 스컹크 skunkas skunkss skunk stinkdier skunk skunks gambá скунс skunk skunk tvor skunk สกั๊งค์ kokarca 臭鼬 скунс ايک امريکي گوشت خور جانور người đáng khinh 臭鼬
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