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ermine
ermine a stoat, especially in its white winter coat. The word comes through Old French, and probably derives ultimately from medieval Latin (mus) Armenius ‘Armenian (mouse)’.
Ermine also denotes the white fur of the stoat, used for trimming garments, especially the ceremonial robes of judges or peers; in heraldry, it is fur represented as black spots on a white ground, as a heraldic tincture (the spots represent the dark tips of the ermines' tails, and are usually elaborated into short vertical lines with small curved projections, often with (usually three) smaller dots above). |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ermine." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ermine." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ermine.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ermine." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ermine.html |
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ermine
er·mine / ˈərmən/ • n. (pl. same or ermines ) a stoat, esp. when in its white winter coat. ∎ the white fur of the stoat, used for trimming garments, esp. ceremonial robes. ∎ Heraldry fur represented as black spots on a white ground, as a heraldic tincture. ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French hermine, probably from medieval Latin (mus) Armenius ‘Armenian (mouse).’ |
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"ermine." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ermine." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ermine.html "ermine." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ermine.html |
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ermine
ermine name for a number of northern species of weasel having white coats in winter, and highly prized for their white fur. It most commonly refers to the white phase of Mustela erminea, called short-tailed weasel in North America and stoat in the Old World. The white pelts are made into wraps, coats, and trimmings. The black-tipped tails are used in the United States as ornament, and in Europe they were used with the ermine of royal robes. |
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"ermine." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ermine." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ermine.html "ermine." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ermine.html |
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ermine
ermine stoat XII; fur of this, often having the black tails arrayed upon it XIII. — OF. (h)ermine (mod. hermine), :- medL. (mũs) Armenius ‘Armenian mouse’, equiv. to L. mũs Ponticus ‘mouse of Pontus’ (Armenia and Pontus were conterminous). But contact with similar Gmc. words is possible, viz. OHG. harmĩn adj., f. harmo stoat, weasel (G. harme) = OE. hearma (etc.).
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T. F. HOAD. "ermine." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "ermine." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ermine.html T. F. HOAD. "ermine." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ermine.html |
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Ermine
Ermine ♀ In origin perhaps a variant of German Hermine, but strongly influenced in popularity by association with the name of the fur (Old French ermine, Medieval Latin armenius (mus) ‘Armenian mouse’), which in Britain is traditionally worn in ceremonies by members of the peerage.
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Ermine." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Ermine." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Ermine.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Ermine." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Ermine.html |
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ermine
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"ermine." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ermine." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ermine.html "ermine." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ermine.html |
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ermine
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "ermine." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "ermine." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ermine.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "ermine." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ermine.html |
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ermine
ermine
•examine, famine, gamin
•admin • jasmine • Yasmin • Brahmin
•women • specimen • madwomen
•clanswomen • charwomen
•craftswomen • draughtswomen
•gentlewomen • Welshwomen
•Frenchwomen
•airwomen, chairwomen
•laywomen • stateswomen
•saleswomen • policewomen
•kinswomen • Englishwomen
•businesswomen • Irishwomen
•congresswomen • countrywomen
•jurywomen • servicewomen
•tribeswomen
•Scotswomen, yachtswomen
•forewomen • horsewomen
•sportswomen • oarswomen
•councilwomen • townswomen
•noblewomen • spokeswomen
•frontierswomen • alderwomen
•anchorwomen • washerwomen
•Ulsterwomen • churchwomen
•catechumen, illumine, lumen
•bitumen
•albumen, albumin
•Duralumin • cumin • Benjamin
•theremin • vitamin
•determine, ermine, vermin
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"ermine." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ermine." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ermine.html "ermine." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ermine.html |
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