From Middle English ermine, ermin, ermyn, from Old French ermin, ermine, hermine.
There are two main theories for the origin of Old French ermine. Germanic origin is suggested via Old Dutch *harmino (“stoat skin”), from *harmo (“stoat, weasel”) (compare Dutch hermelijn and dialectal herm), from Proto-Germanic *harmǭ, *harmô (compare Old English hearma, Old High German harmo (harmin (adjective), obsolete German Harm), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱormō (compare Romansh carmun, obsolete Lithuanian šarmuõ). Romance sources identify the animal with the corresponding word for Armenian, possibly from Medieval Latin mūs Armenius (“Armenian mouse”) or a posterior compound.
Meanings
(not-comparable) In blazon, of the colour ermine (white with black spots).
Translations (3)
sv hermelin (of white colour with black spots on a coat of arms) · da hermelin (of white colour with black spots on a coat of arms) · cs hermelínový (of white colour with black spots on a coat of arms)
From Middle English ermine, ermin, ermyn, from Old French ermin, ermine, hermine.
There are two main theories for the origin of Old French ermine. Germanic origin is suggested via Old Dutch *harmino (“stoat skin”), from *harmo (“stoat, weasel”) (compare Dutch hermelijn and dialectal herm), from Proto-Germanic *harmǭ, *harmô (compare Old English hearma, Old High German harmo (harmin (adjective), obsolete German Harm), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱormō (compare Romansh carmun, obsolete Lithuanian šarmuõ). Romance sources identify the animal with the corresponding word for Armenian, possibly from Medieval Latin mūs Armenius (“Armenian mouse”) or a posterior compound.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A weasel found in northern latitudes (Mustela erminea in Eurasia, Alaska, and the Arctic, Mustela haidarum in Haida Gwaii, Mustela richardsonii in the rest of North America); its dark brown fur turns white in winter, apart from the black tip of the tail.
(countable, uncountable) The white fur of this animal, traditionally seen as a symbol of purity and used for judges' robes.
(broadly, countable, figuratively, uncountable) The office of a judge.
(countable, uncountable) The fur of this animal, used as a heraldic tincture: a white field with a repeating pattern of stylized black spots.
(countable, uncountable) Any of various moths, especially in the family Yponomeutidae
udm тӧдьычайы (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · nv dlǫ́ʼiiłgaii (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · pl gronostaj (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sh хермѐлӣн (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · dsb hermelin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · el ερμίνα (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · oc ermina (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · mk хермели́н (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · gl armiño (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · fi hermeliini (the white fur of this animal) · lv sermulis (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sq nuselalë e borës (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sc ermellinu (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · fi kärppä (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · is hreysiköttur (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · hy սպիտակ աքիս (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ro hermină (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · fi kehrääjäkoi (moths of the family Yponomeutidae) · cmn 白鼬 (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · tr ermin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · nn hermelin (the white fur of this animal) · gd neas mhòr (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sms puõiddi (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · mn үен (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · it ermellino (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · nl hermelijn (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · be гарнаста́й (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ka ყარყუმი (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sh hermèlīn (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ro hermină (the white fur of this animal) · ba аҫ (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · de Hermelin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · mt ermellin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · mk хермели́н ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · kmr ququme (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · fr hermine (the white fur of this animal) · tl arminyo (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · mi toriura (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · aht nihbaay (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · es armiño (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · nb røyskatt (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ast mustadiella blanca (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · kmr fisos (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · cjs ас (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · cs hranostaj (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · de Hermelin ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · gd neas (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ro herminat ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · se buoidda (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · pt arminho (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sv lekatt (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · nn røysekatt (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · taa choghozrena (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · hy կնգում (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · hsb hermelin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · la Mustela erminea (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · vo visafot (the white fur of this animal) · ar قَاقِم (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · uk горноста́й (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · da hermelin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · fur armelin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · nb hermelin (the white fur of this animal) · sq nuselalë bishtzezë (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · de Hermelin (the white fur of this animal) · nrf b'lette (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · mn ᠦᠶᠡᠩ (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · pl gronostaje (the white fur of this animal) · kk ақкіс (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · hu hölgymenyét (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · urj-kya чужмөр (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · cy carlwm (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ko 북방족제비 (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · pl gronostaj ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · bg хермелин (the white fur of this animal) · ru горноста́й (the white fur of this animal) · hy ախազ (the white fur of this animal) · alt агас (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · fr hermine (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · es armiño (a symbol of purity) · ga cailín bán (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · hy ախազ (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · lt šermuonėlis (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · mk ермели́н (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · fo roysikøttur (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · eu erbinude zuri (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · az qaqum (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sv hermelin ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · ckt эмчьачокаԓгын (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · fi kärpännahka (the white fur of this animal) · fr hermine ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · cs hermelín (the white fur of this animal) · rom ermina (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ast papalbina (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · koi чужмӧр (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · alt ас (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · xcl կնգմենի (the white fur of this animal) · ckb قاقوم (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ia armenio (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ca ermini (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · et hermeliin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sh zèrdāv (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sh зѐрда̄в (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · es armiño (the white fur of this animal) · et kärp (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · kl ukaliatsiaq (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · kpv сьӧдбӧж (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · vo (untanned) härminaskin (the white fur of this animal) · sl hermelin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · nn røyskatt (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · qwm ախ աս (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ota قاقم (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · vo härminapläd (the white fur of this animal) · ckb قاقِم (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · hsb hronostaj (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sk hranostaj (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ja おこじょ (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · es armiño ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · eo ermeno (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · br erminig (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · nl hermelijn ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · hu hermelin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · vo härmin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · udm ӵӧжмер (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · tr as (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sq ermelina (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · et lahits (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · udm сьӧдбыж (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · bg хермелин (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ang hearma (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · da lækat (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · fi kärpännahka ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · fy harmeling (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · sv hermelin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · kpv чужмӧр (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ga easóg (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ro hermelină (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ru горноста́й (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · lld armelin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · ka ყარყუმი (the white fur of this animal) · it armellino ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · fa قاقم (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · rm ermelin (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · tr kakım (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum) · cs hermelín ((heraldry) a white field with black spots) · ga bláthnaid (Mustela erminea, M. richardsonii, M. haidarum)
From Middle English ermine, ermin, ermyn, from Old French ermin, ermine, hermine.
There are two main theories for the origin of Old French ermine. Germanic origin is suggested via Old Dutch *harmino (“stoat skin”), from *harmo (“stoat, weasel”) (compare Dutch hermelijn and dialectal herm), from Proto-Germanic *harmǭ, *harmô (compare Old English hearma, Old High German harmo (harmin (adjective), obsolete German Harm), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱormō (compare Romansh carmun, obsolete Lithuanian šarmuõ). Romance sources identify the animal with the corresponding word for Armenian, possibly from Medieval Latin mūs Armenius (“Armenian mouse”) or a posterior compound.