marten
marten Lexical Profile
marten Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A slender, agile, semi-arboreal mammal of the weasel family (genus Martes), native to the forests of the Northern Hemisphere and characterized by a bushy tail and valuable fur.
"The pine marten is an expert climber, gracefully leaping through the dense canopy of the boreal forest in search of prey."
The soft, thick fur or pelt of a marten, historically highly valued in the clothing and fashion trade.
"In the 18th century, garments trimmed with marten were considered a sign of considerable wealth and status."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with its homophone 'martin', which refers to a type of insectivorous bird in the swallow family.
• Rhymes for marten
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'martren', derived from Old French 'martrine' (marten fur) and 'martre' (marten), ultimately of Germanic origin.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.