weasel Meaning & Definition
What Does Weasel Mean?
Weasel is a noun that means Any of the carnivorous mammals of the genera Mustela, Neogale, Poecilogale, and Lyncodon, having a slender body, a long tail and usually a light brown upper coat and light-coloured belly. It is also used to mean A least weasel (Mustela nivalis). As a verb, it means To achieve by clever or devious means.
Weasel in Brief
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈwiːz(ə)l/ |
| Synonyms | mustela |
| Plural | weasels |
| Verb forms | weasels, and past participle |
Weasel Definition (Noun)
- Any of the carnivorous mammals of the genera Mustela, Neogale, Poecilogale, and Lyncodon, having a slender body, a long tail and usually a light brown upper coat and light-coloured belly.
- A least weasel (Mustela nivalis).
- Any of certain other species of the family Mustelidae.
- A devious or sneaky person or animal, or a statement that is technically true but intentionally misleading.
- A type of yarn winder used for counting the yardage of handspun yarn; spinner's weasel. It most commonly has a wooden peg or dowel that pops up from the gearing mechanism after a certain number of yards have been wound onto the winder.
Weasel as a Verb
- To achieve by clever or devious means.
- To gain something for oneself by clever or devious means.
- To engage in clever or devious behavior.
Noun
- The least weasel, Mustela nivalis.
- Any of the carnivorous mammals of the genus Mustela, having a slender body, a long tail and usually a light brown upper coat and light-coloured belly.
- The taxonomic family Mustelidae is also called the weasel family.
- A devious or sneaky person or animal.
- A type of yarn winder used for counting the yardage of handspun yarn. It most commonly has a wooden peg or dowel that pops up from the gearing mechanism after a certain number of yards have been wound onto the winder.
Synonyms of Weasel
Weasel synonyms and antonyms →Word Forms & Grammar
weasel (plural weasels)
weasel (third-person singular simple present weasels, present participle (US) weaseling or (UK) weaselling, simple past and past participle (US) weaseled or (UK) weaselled)
Words That Rhyme With Weasel
Origin of Weasel
From Middle English wesele, from Old English weosule, from Proto-West Germanic *wisulā, from Proto-Germanic *wisulǭ. The verb is from c. 1900, from the supposed cunningness of the weasel.
Weasel: Your Questions Answered
Is weasel a noun or a verb?
Weasel is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for weasel?
You can replace weasel with words such as mustela. See the full list of weasel synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of weasel?
The plural of weasel is weasels.
What is the past tense of weasel?
The past tense of weasel is and past participle.