English
weasel
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈwiːz(ə)l/
  • (GA) enPR wēʹzəl, IPA: /ˈwizəl/, /ˈwizl̩/
Noun

weasel (plural weasels)

  1. The least weasel, Mustela nivalis.
  2. 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.
  3. The taxonomic family Mustelidae is also called the weasel family.
  4. A devious or sneaky person or animal.
  5. 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.
Related terms Translations Translations Translations Verb

weasel (weasels, present participle weaseling; past weaseled, past participle weaseled)

  1. (transitive) To achieve by clever or devious means.
    • 2010 (publication date), Tony Dajer, "Vital Signs", Discover (magazine), ISSN 0274-7529, volume 32, number 1, January–February 2011, page 10:
      Prisoners are notorious for weaseling day passes to get out of lockup […] .
  2. (transitive or reflexive) To gain something for oneself by clever or devious means.
  3. (intransitive) To engage in clever or devious behavior.
Related terms Translations
  • Russian: уви́ливать


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