mink
/mɪŋk/ noun
Forms minks minx
- noun (plural mink or minks) Any semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammal in the Mustelinae subfamily, similar to weasels, with dark fur, native to Europe and America, of which two species in different genera are extant: the American mink (Neogale vison) and the European mink (Mustela lutreola).
- noun (plural mink) The fur or pelt of a mink, used to make apparel.
- noun (plural minks) An article of clothing made of mink.
- noun (Scotland, slang, derogatory, plural minks) A person with poor personal hygiene; a smelly person.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Late Middle English mynk (“fur of the European mink”), apparently from Swedish mink, mänk, menk (“stinking animal in Finland, mink”). Compare Danish mink (“mink”), Icelandic minkur (“mink”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A carnivorous mammal of the genus Putorius, allied to the weasel. The European mink is Putorius lutreola. The common American mink (P. vison) varies from yellowish brown to black. Its fur is highly valued. Called also minx, nurik, and vison.
Etymology [Cf. 2d Minx.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “mink”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details