polecat
polecat Lexical Profile
polecat Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American A skunk.
"We had to roll up the car windows quickly when we drove past a dead polecat on the highway."
A slender, carnivorous mammal (Mustela putorius) of the weasel family, native to Eurasia and North Africa, noted for its dark facial mask and the foul-smelling fluid it secretes when threatened.
"The farmer reinforced the wire mesh around his coop to prevent a prowling polecat from stealing his chickens."
American A disagreeable, untrustworthy, or despicable person.
"The local sheriff vowed to run the cheating polecat out of town before sundown."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North American vernacular, 'polecat' is frequently used as a colloquial synonym for a skunk, whereas in European contexts, it refers strictly to the wild, weasel-like ancestor of the domestic ferret.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'polcat'. The first element is likely derived from Old French 'poule' (chicken), referring to the animal's notorious habit of preying on domestic poultry.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.