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Ermine vs Ermelin - What's the difference?

ermine | ermelin |

As nouns the difference between ermine and ermelin

is that ermine is a weasel, , found in northern latitudes; its dark brown fur turns white in winter (apart from the black tip of the tail) while ermelin is (obsolete) an ermine.

As a verb ermine

is to clothe with ermine.

ermine

English

Noun

(wikipedia ermine) (en-noun)
  • A weasel, , found in northern latitudes; its dark brown fur turns white in winter (apart from the black tip of the tail)
  • The white fur of this animal
  • (poetic) A symbol of purity
  • (figuratively) The office of a judge
  • (tincture) A white field with black spots

    • Synonyms

    * stoat (British) * short-tailed weasel * wild otter

    Verb

    (ermin)
  • To clothe with ermine

    • References

    * OED 2nd edition 1989

    Anagrams

    * ----

    ermelin

    English

    Alternative forms

    * ermilin

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An ermine.
  • *1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , III.ii:
    • And on his shield enueloped seuenfold / He bore a crowned litle Ermilin [...].