- weasel
- I. noun (plural weasels) Etymology: Middle English wesele, from Old English weosule; akin to Old High German wisula weasel Date: before 12th century 1. or plural weasel any of various small slender active carnivorous mammals (genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae, the weasel family) that are able to prey on animals (as rabbits) larger than themselves, are mostly brown with white or yellowish underparts, and in northern forms turn white in winter — compare ermine 1a 2. a light self-propelled tracked vehicle built either for traveling over snow, ice, or sand or as an amphibious vehicle 3. a sneaky, untrustworthy, or insincere person II. verb (weaseled; weaseling) Etymology: weasel word Date: 1900 intransitive verb 1. to use weasel words ; equivocate 2. to escape from or evade a situation or obligation — often used with out transitive verb to manipulate shiftily
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
См. также в других словарях:
Weasel — Wea sel, n. [OE. wesele, AS. wesle; akin to D. wezel, G. wiesel, OHG. wisala, Icel. hreyiv[=i]sla, Dan. v[ a]sel, Sw. vessla; of uncertain origin; cf. Gr. ?, ?, cat, weasel.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of various species of small carnivores belonging to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
weasel — [wē′zəl] n. pl. weasels or weasel [ME wesel < OE wesle, akin to Ger wiesel, prob. < IE base * weis , to flow out (with reference to the rank odor emitted by the animal) > VIRUS, BISON] 1. any of various agile musteline carnivores (esp.… … English World dictionary
weasel — [n] sneak betrayer, blabbermouth*, canary*, deceiver, deep throat*, doublecrosser, fink*, informant, informer, narc*, nark*, rat*, sneak, snitch, snitcher, source, squealer*, stoolie*, stool pigeon*, tattler, tattletale, tipster*, turncoat,… … New thesaurus
weasel — ► NOUN 1) a small slender carnivorous mammal related to the stoat, with reddish brown fur. 2) informal a deceitful or treacherous person. ► VERB (weaselled, weaselling; US weaseled, weaseling) ▪ achieve through cunning or deceit … English terms dictionary
Weasel — For other uses, see Weasel (disambiguation). Weasel Least Weasel Scientific classification Kingdom … Wikipedia
weasel — /wee zeuhl/, n., pl. weasels, (esp. collectively) weasel, v. n. 1. any small carnivore of the genus Mustela, of the family Mustelidae, having a long, slender body and feeding chiefly on small rodents. 2. any of various similar animals of the… … Universalium
weasel — {{11}}weasel (n.) O.E. weosule, wesle weasel, from P.Gmc. *wisulon (Cf. O.N. visla, M.Du. wesel, Du. wezel, O.H.G. wisula, Ger. Wiesel), probably related to P.Gmc. *wisand bison (see BISON (Cf. bison)), with a base sense of … Etymology dictionary
Weasel — M29 Weasel Le M29 Weasel est un véhicule automobile chenillé créé et utilisé par l armée américaine pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Sa conception amphibie le prédestinait aux régions marécageuses. Il fut utilisé par le Corps expéditionnaire… … Wikipédia en Français
weasel — v. (colloq.) (AE) (d; intr.) to weasel out of ( to evade ) (to weasel out of one s obligations) * * * [ wiːz(ə)l] (colloq.) (AE) (d; intr.) to weasel out of (to weasel out of one s obligations; to evade ) … Combinatory dictionary
weasel — wea|sel1 [ˈwi:zəl] n [: Old English; Origin: weosule] a small thin furry animal that kills and eats rats and birds weasel 2 weasel2 v past tense and past participle weaselled present participle weaselling BrE past tense and past participle… … Dictionary of contemporary English
