Weasel
/ˈwiːzəl/noun
A small carnivorous mammal with a long slender body, short legs, and a pointed face.
Did you know?The exact origin is uncertain, but many scholars connect *weasel* to a Germanic root meaning “stink” or “musk,” which fits the animal’s old associations with a strong scent.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wisilō
“a weasel”
Old English
OE
weosule / wesle
“a weasel”
Middle English
ME
wesel
“a weasel”
Modern English
English
weasel
“a small slender carnivorous mammal”