musteline

[ muhs-tl-ahyn, -in ]
/ ˈmʌs tlˌaɪn, -ɪn /

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the family Mustelidae, including the martens, skunks, minks, weasels, badgers, and otters.
resembling a weasel.
tawny or brown, like a weasel in summer.

Origin of musteline

1650–60; < Latin mustēlīnus, equivalent to mustēl(a) weasel + -īnus -ine1

Example sentences from the Web for musteline

  • The small mandibular ramus of a musteline referred by Dr. Roth to Mephitis suffocans, does not pertain to this genus and species.

    Through the Heart of Patagonia |H. Hesketh Prichard

British Dictionary definitions for musteline

musteline
/ (ˈmʌstɪˌlaɪn, -lɪn) /

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Mustelidae, a family of typically predatory mammals including weasels, ferrets, minks, polecats, badgers, skunks, and otters: order Carnivora (carnivores)

noun

any musteline animal

Word Origin for musteline

C17: from Latin mustēlīnus, from mustēla weasel, from mūs mouse + -tēla, of unknown origin