weasel
[ wee-zuh l ]
/ ˈwi zəl /
noun, plural wea·sels, (especially collectively) wea·sel.
verb (used without object)
Origin of weasel
before 900; 1920–25
for def 6; Middle English
wesele, Old English
wesle, weosule; cognate with Old High German
wisula, German
Wiesel
Words nearby weasel
wearing course,
wearisome,
wearproof,
weary,
weasand,
weasel,
weasel out,
weasel word,
weasel words,
weaselly,
weather
British Dictionary definitions for weasel out (1 of 2)
weasel out
verb -sels, -selling or -selled or US -seling or -seled (intr, adverb) informal
to go back on a commitment
to evade a responsibility, esp in a despicable manner
British Dictionary definitions for weasel out (2 of 2)
weasel
/ (ˈwiːzəl) /
noun plural -sels or -sel
any of various small predatory musteline mammals of the genus Mustela and related genera, esp M. nivalis (European weasel), having reddish-brown fur, an elongated body and neck, and short legs
informal
a sly or treacherous person
mainly US
a motor vehicle for use in snow, esp one with caterpillar tracks
Derived forms of weasel
weaselly, adjectiveWord Origin for weasel
Old English
weosule, wesle; related to Old Norse
visla, Old High German
wisula, Middle Dutch
wesel
Idioms and Phrases with weasel out
weasel out
Back out of a situation or commitment, especially in a sneaky way. For example, I'd love to weasel out of serving on the board. This expression alludes to the stealthy hunting and nesting habits of the weasel, a small, slender-bodied predator. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]