Polecat \Pole"cat`\, n. [Probably fr. F. poule hen, and originally, a poultry cat, because it feeds on poultry. See {Poultry}.] (Zool.) (a) A small European carnivore of the Weasel family ({Putorius f[oe]tidus}). Its scent glands secrete a substance of an exceedingly disagreeable odor. Called also {fitchet}, {foulmart}, and {European ferret}. (b) The zorilla. The name is also applied to other allied species. [1913 Webster]
Fitchet \Fitch"et\, Fitchew \Fitch"ew\, n. [Cf. OF. fisseau, fissel, OD. fisse, visse, vitsche, D. vies nasty, loathsome, E. fizz.] (Zool.) The European polecat ({Putorius f[oe]tidus}). See {Polecat}. [1913 Webster]