ermine English · revision 821

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɜːmɪn/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɝmɪn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|ermin]],^(AHD) [[bor|fro|ermine]], ''hermine'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) also Anglo-French ''hermin''.^(MW Collegiate) Its source is disputed.^(Etymonline) One view derives it from Medieval Latin ''(mūs) Armenius'' “Armenian (mouse)”, the animal being abundant in Asia Minor.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Hendrickson 2008) Another links it to a Germanic word for “weasel”, seen in Old High German ''harmo'' and Old English ''hearma''.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) The Romance and Germanic words were probably confused early because of their similar form and meaning.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The animal, a northern weasel called a stoat in England, whose fur turns white in winter (before 1200 in the OED; probably about 1175 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word also named the animal's fur from the 13th century (1297).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Hoad 1986) Its white winter fur, often with the black tail tips set into it at regular intervals, was used to line official and ceremonial robes, in England especially those of judges and peers.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) Hence ''the ermine'' came to stand figuratively for judicial office and dignity (1794).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In heraldry ermine is a fur shown as white with black spots (1562).^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – the animal.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1297 – its fur.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1474 – ''ermines'', ermine trimmings.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1562 – heraldic fur.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1794 – figuratively, the office of a judge.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1825 – verb, to clothe in ermine.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[weasel]], ''Mustela erminea'', of northern regions, whose brown coat turns white in winter except for the black tip of the tail; a [[stoat]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The white winter fur of this animal, used especially for trimming the robes of judges and peers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The rank or office of a judge or noble entitled to wear ermine.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(heraldry)'' A [[tincture]] representing this fur, white with black spots.^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ermined]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[stoat]]

+ * [[weasel]]

+ * [[Armenian]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}