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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

weasel en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈwizl̩/ (General-American)
  • wēʹzəl (General-American)
  • wēzʹl (General-American)
  • /ˈwizəl/ (General-American)
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈwiːz(ə)l/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *wisulǭ Proto-West Germanic *wisulā Old English weosule Middle English wēsele English 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.

Meanings

  1. 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.
    • An old traditional prescription for provoking erotic inclinations ran as follows, The toe of the foot of a man, anointed with oil, or honey, or the ashes of a weasel. 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 234:
  2. A least weasel (Mustela nivalis).
  3. Any of certain other species of the family Mustelidae.
  4. (derogatory, informal) A devious or sneaky person or animal.
    • Once you've gone beyond the scripted speeches, soundbites and cliches, you'll notice how the debate about leadership is primarily divided between the three governors and two senators, the other two weasels, Donald Trump and Ben Carson notwithstanding. 2016 February 8, Marwan Bishara, “Why Obama fails the leadership test in the Middle East”, in Al Jazeera English:
  5. 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.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
weazel alternative lexicographic
weazle alternative lexicographic
weasels Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

little weasel (Mustelidae) · vison weasel (Mustelidae) · weasel-faced (other) · New York weasel (Mustelidae) · long-tailed weasel (Mustelidae) · weasely (other) · Patagonian weasel (Mustelidae) · short-tailed weasel (Mustelidae) · Colombian weasel (Mustelidae) · mountain weasel (Mustelidae) · weasel cat (other) · cuntweasel (other) · least weasel (Mustelidae) · bridled weasel (Mustelidae) · dwarf weasel (Mustelidae) · Japanese weasel (Mustelidae) · Malay weasel (Mustelidae) · chalk-eating weasel (other) · Malayan weasel (Mustelidae) · weasel word (other) · weasel-like (other) · weaselish (other) · weaseler (other) · Malacca weasel (Mustelidae) · Altai weasel (Mustelidae) · weaselese (other) · white weasel (Mustelidae) · weasel war dance (other) · common weasel (Mustelidae) · yellow weasel (Mustelidae) · yellow-bellied weasel (Mustelidae) · tiger weasel (Mustelidae) · Tonkin weasel (Mustelidae) · weaselfish (other) · Bonaparte's weasel (Mustelidae) · back-striped weasel (Mustelidae) · weasel duck (other) · Amazon weasel (Mustelidae) · dwarf weasel (Mustelidae) · wild weasel (other) · weasel lemur (other) · honey weasel (other) · honey weasel (Mustelidae) · weasel-headed armadillo (other) · weaselskin (other) · stripe-backed weasel (Mustelidae) · weasellike (other) · snake weasel (Mustelidae) · African striped weasel (Mustelidae) · Egyptian weasel (Mustelidae) · Siberian weasel (Mustelidae) · weaselly (other) · weasel clause (other) · pale weasel (Mustelidae) · weasel spider (other) · weasel coot (other) · pygmy weasel (Mustelidae)

Synonyms

mustela (any of the carnivorous mammals of the genus Mustela)

Translations (155)

it donnola (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ltg luoseica (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · pdt Elkj (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · ary فارة الخيل (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · eu erbinude (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · eo virmusteledo (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · lv zebiekste (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · vo visaf (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · ast colleralba (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · grc γαλῆ (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ja 飯綱 (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · eo virmustelo (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · eo vizelo (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · nv dlǫ́ʼii (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sq nusebukur (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · scn baḍḍòttula (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · cy bronwen (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · be ла́ска (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · hu menyét (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · fr petite belette (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · grc γαλέη (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · lt žebenkštis (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · bg невесту́лка (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · cmn 銀鼠 /银鼠 (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · fi härveli (yarn winder) · oc mostèla (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · lv zebiekste (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · ka სინდიოფალა (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · cim bròiballe (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · tr gelincik (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · tew yáy (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · fi näätäeläin (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · da væsel (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ja(least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · cs lasice (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · alq cigosi (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · th เพียงพอน (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · pt doninha (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · eo musteledino (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · eo mustelino (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · vo visaf (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · gd neas bheag (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · es comadreja (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ca visó (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · ar عِرْسَة (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sl podlasica (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ms wesel (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · fa راسو (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · gd neas (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · gl denociña (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · gl doniña (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · de Zwergwiesel (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · eo vizelino (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · nv dlǫ́ʼii (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · ang weosule (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · es mustela (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sh ласица (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ka დედოფალა (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sq nuselalë (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ja イタチ (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · id cerpelai (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · da brud (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · de Wiesel (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · mk ла́сица (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · hy աքիս (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · grc γαλῆ (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · eo musteledo (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · mi tori uaroa (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · fi kärppä (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · sq nusël (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · gl donicela (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · fr belette d'Europe (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · mi tori (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · fr belette (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · bo ཟེ་མོ་སེར་པོ (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · fy wezeling (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · mi wītara (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · br kaerell (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sq bukël (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · be ла́ска (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · qu achuqalla (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · fr belette pygmée (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · grc γαλέη (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · fi lumikko (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · eo mustelo (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · he חָמוֹס (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sco whitrat (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ar اِبْن عِرْس (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · lv sermulis (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · ca mustèlid (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · enm wesele (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · el ανέμη (yarn winder) · az gəlincik (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ko 족제비 (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ro nevăstuică (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · hi रासू (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · es comadreja (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · ga easóg (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · mzn لسک (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ja 鼬鼠 (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ru ла́ска (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · enm wesele (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · hu menyét (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · de Marder (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · ka თრითინა (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · wa bascolidî (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · uk ла́сиця (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sq furrëbubëz (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · et nirk (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · mi wīhara (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · fy marter (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · fr fouine (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · wa bascolete (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · uk ла́ска (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · nds Wesel (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · eo mustelo (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · sq nusmirë (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ast rataliga (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · la mūstēla (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ru ла́ска (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · gd neas (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · ga bláthnaid ghallda (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · cmn 伶鼬 (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · pl łasica (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · tew yáy (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · de Wiesel (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · mi tori uaroa (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · pt doninha (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sh lasica (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · pdt Elkj (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ast mustadiella (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · de Hermännchen (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ba йәтсә (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · el νυφίτσα (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · mi tori uaroa (any mammal of the family Mustelidae) · tl mustela (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · nl wezel (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · dsb łasycka (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sq larakuqe (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · de Kleinwiesel (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · es turón (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sq bishtafurkë (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ast denunciella (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · wa marcote (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · cy gwenci (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · de Mauswiesel (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · dsb łasyca (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sq nusëz (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · uk ла́ска (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · cmn 鼬鼠 (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · eo mustelo (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · uk ла́сиця (any mammal of the genus Mustela) · lb Wisel (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · sv vessla (least weasel, Mustela nivalis) · ca mostela (least weasel, Mustela nivalis)

weasel en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈwizl̩/ (General-American)
  • wēʹzəl (General-American)
  • wēzʹl (General-American)
  • /ˈwizəl/ (General-American)
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈwiːz(ə)l/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *wisulǭ Proto-West Germanic *wisulā Old English weosule Middle English wēsele English 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.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To achieve by clever or devious means.
    • Prisoners are notorious for weaseling day passes to get out of lockup […] . 2010 (publication date), Tony Dajer, "Vital Signs", Discover, ISSN 0274-7529, volume 32, number 1, January–February 2011, page 10
  2. (reflexive, transitive) To gain something for oneself by clever or devious means.
    • Within just a couple of days, she [a dog] had weaseled her way into our hearts. 2010, Susie Davis, Uncovered: Revealing the Secrets of a Sexy Marriage, page 147:
    • He's weaseled himself into a position where he can influence the outcome of this election. 2006, Tony Ruggiero, Alien Deception:
  3. (intransitive) To engage in clever or devious behavior.
    • Authority figures have a history of weaseling on this topic. 1996, Stefan Bechtel, Larry Stains, Sex: A Man's Guide, page 151:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
weaselled Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part UK lexicographic
weaselled Tense=Past UK lexicographic
weasels Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
weazle alternative lexicographic
weazel alternative lexicographic
weaseled Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part US lexicographic
weaseled Tense=Past US lexicographic
weaseling Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part US lexicographic
weaselling Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part UK lexicographic

Relateds

weasel one's way · polecat · weaseller · stoat · weasel into · ferret · weaseler · weasel out · mink

Translations (9)

hu kihúzza magát valamiből (to weasel out of doing something) · fi kieroilla (to weasel something out of somebody) · pl wykręcić się (to weasel out of doing something) · bg клинча (to weasel out of doing something) · fi huiputtaa (to weasel something out of somebody) · fi kiemurrella (to weasel out of doing something) · ru уви́ливать (to weasel out of doing something) · ru увильну́ть (to weasel out of doing something) · fi lusmuilla (to weasel out of doing something)