Ermine

Description

The fur trade name for the winter white coat of a stoat (Mustela erminea). Weasels have reddish brown fur in the summer and a thick, white coat in winter with the exception of the tip of the tail which remains black. Found primarily in Eurasia and North America, white ermine fur was highly valuable. During the 14th century in England, only nobility were allowed to wear ermine.

Synonyms and Related Terms

stoat (Mustela erminea); short-tailed weasel; lækat (Dan.); Hermelin (Deut., Sven.); armiño (Esp.); hermine (Fr.); hermelijn (Ned.); gronostaj(Pol.); arminho (Port.);

Other Properties

Color = white in winter Guard hairs = silky

Additional Images

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  Stoat Mustela erminea

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  Ermine

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  Ermine

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "ermine" Encyclopædia Britannica [Accessed November 15, 2001].

• Edward Reich, Carlton J. Siegler, Consumer Goods: How to Know and Use Them, American Book Company, New York City, 1937

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ermine (Accessed Nov. 2, 2005)