mink
UK[mɪŋk]US[mɪŋk]
n
a small semiaquatic mammal with a slender body, short legs, and dark brown fur.
n
the valuable thick brown fur of the mink.
n
a coat or other garment made from this fur.
Etymology
the word 'mink' entered english in the early 15th century, borrowed from middle swedish 'menk'. its ultimate origin is likely from a finno-ugric source, such as the finnish 'minkki', which refers to the animal. the term traveled into the germanic languages and was adopted into english specifically to name this fur-bearing animal. the modern meaning is a direct and unchanged reference to the animal and its commercially valuable pelt, with no further morphological decomposition in english.
Analysis
this word is a simplex loanword. it does not contain separable morphemes within its modern english spelling.
Examples
the riverbank was a perfect habitat for the wild mink.
she wore an elegant coat made of dark mink.
the debate focused on the ethics of farming mink for their fur.