What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

What is the difference between weasel and marten?

weasel | marten |

As nouns the difference between weasel and marten

is that weasel is the least weasel, Mustela nivalis while marten is any carnivorous mammal of the genus Martes in the family Mustelidae.

As a verb weasel

is to achieve by clever or devious means.

weasel

English

Noun

(wikipedia weasel) (en noun)
  • The least weasel, Mustela nivalis .
  • Any of the carnivorous mammals of the genus Mustela , having a slender body, a long tail and usually a light brown upper coat and light-coloured belly.
  • The taxonomic family Mustelidae is also called the weasel family.
  • A devious or sneaky person or animal.
  • A type of yarn winder used for counting the yardage of handspun yarn. 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.

    • Derived terms

    * short-tailed weasel * weaselly, weasely * weasel word

    Verb

  • To achieve by clever or devious means.
  • * 2010 (publication date), Tony Dajer, "Vital Signs", , ISSN 0274-7529, volume 32, number 1, January–February 2011, page 10:
    • Prisoners are notorious for weaseling day passes to get out of lockup.
  • (transitive, or, reflexive) To gain something for oneself by clever or devious means.
  • *
  • *
  • To engage in clever or devious behavior.
  • *

    • Usage notes

    * and weaselled are more common in the UK.

    Derived terms

    * weasel one's way * weasel out

    See also

    * ferret * mink * polecat * stoat

    marten

    English

    (wikipedia marten) (Martes)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), (m), from (etyl) , (etyl) nyfítsa'' 'weasel', from ''nymf? 'bride'.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any carnivorous mammal of the genus Martes'' in the family ''Mustelidae .
    • Derived terms
    * American marten * beech marten * Japanese marten * nilgiri marten * pine marten * stone marten * yellow-throated marten

    See also

    * ferret * fisher * mink * otter * sable * stoat * weasel * wolverine

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (the bird)
  • * 1829 , Magazine of Natural History (volume 1, page 402)
    • Towards the end of the month, swallows and house martens congregate, and are often seen resting on the ridges or sloping roofs of buildings.