polecat
UK[ˈpəʊlkæt]US[ˈpoʊlkæt]
n
A small, dark brown, wild animal with a strong, unpleasant smell, related to the weasel.
n
The fur of this animal.
Etymology
The word 'polecat' entered Middle English around the 14th century. Its first element is obscure but likely derives from Old French, hinting at the creature's long-standing reputation as a pest to farmers' chickens. The appendage of '-cat' is a classic example of folk taxonomy, where an unfamiliar animal is named by analogy to a familiar one, despite the polecat being a mustelid, not a feline. Over time, the name solidified, losing its transparent compositional meaning for modern speakers and becoming a fixed label for the species Mustela putorius.
Analysis
The word 'polecat' is a simplex word of English origin. The first element 'pole-' is of uncertain origin but may be related to the Old French 'pole' or 'poule' meaning 'hen, chicken', referring to the animal's habit of raiding poultry. The second element '-cat' is from the common English word for the feline animal, used here due to a perceived resemblance.
Examples
The distinctive odor of a polecat is a powerful defense mechanism.
Farmers once considered the polecat a threat to their hen houses.
The naturalist carefully observed the polecat's nocturnal hunting habits.