from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Weasel \Wea"sel\, n. [OE. wesele, AS. wesle; akin to D. wezel,
G. wiesel, OHG. wisala, Icel. hreyiv[imac]sla, Dan.
v[aum]sel, Sw. vessla; of uncertain origin; cf. Gr. ?, ?,
cat, weasel.] (Zool.)
Any one of various species of small carnivores belonging to
the genus {Putorius}, as the ermine and ferret. They have a
slender, elongated body, and are noted for the quickness of
their movements and for their bloodthirsty habit in
destroying poultry, rats, etc. The ermine and some other
species are brown in summer, and turn white in winter; others
are brown at all seasons.
[1913 Webster]
{Malacca weasel}, the rasse.
{Weasel coot}, a female or young male of the smew; -- so
called from the resemblance of the head to that of a
weasel. Called also {weasel duck}.
{Weasel lemur}, a short-tailed lemur ({Lepilemur
mustelinus}). It is reddish brown above, grayish brown
below, with the throat white.
[1913 Webster]