polecat
Pronunciation: /ˈpəʊlkat/
noun
- a weasel-like Eurasian mammal with mainly dark brown fur and a darker mask across the eyes, noted for its fetid smell.
- Genus Mustela, family Mustelidae: three species, in particular the European polecat (M. putorius), which is the probable ancestor of the domestic ferret
- North American term for skunk.
Origin:
Middle English: perhaps from Old French pole 'chicken' + cat1