I. ˈwē-zəl noun
( plural weasels )
Etymology: Middle English wesele, from Old English weosule; akin to Old High German wisula weasel
Date: before 12th century
1. or plural weasel : any of various small slender active carnivorous mammals (genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae, the weasel family) that are able to prey on animals (as rabbits) larger than themselves, are mostly brown with white or yellowish underparts, and in northern forms turn white in winter — compare ermine 1a
2. : a light self-propelled tracked vehicle built either for traveling over snow, ice, or sand or as an amphibious vehicle
3. : a sneaky, untrustworthy, or insincere person
[
weasel 1
]
II. verb
( wea·seled ; wea·sel·ing ˈwēz-liŋ, ˈwē-zə-)
Etymology: weasel word
Date: 1900
intransitive verb
1. : to use weasel words : equivocate
2. : to escape from or evade a situation or obligation — often used with out
transitive verb
: to manipulate shiftily