polecat

[ pohl-kat ]
/ ˈpoʊlˌkæt /

noun, plural pole·cats, (especially collectively) pole·cat.

a European mammal, Mustela putorius, of the weasel family, having a blackish fur and ejecting a fetid fluid when attacked or disturbed. Compare ferret1(def 1).
any of various North American skunks.

Origin of polecat

1275–1325; Middle English polcat, perhaps equivalent to Middle French pol, poul chicken (< Latin pullus) + cat1

Example sentences from the Web for polecat

British Dictionary definitions for polecat

polecat
/ (ˈpəʊlˌkæt) /

noun plural -cats or -cat

Also called (formerly): foumart a dark brown musteline mammal, Mustela putorius, of woodlands of Europe, Asia, and N Africa, that is closely related to but larger than the weasel and gives off an unpleasant smell See also sweet marten
any of various related animals, such as the marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna
US a nontechnical name for skunk (def. 1)

Word Origin for polecat

C14 polcat, perhaps from Old French pol cock, from Latin pullus, + cat 1; from its habit of preying on poultry