/mahr"tn/ , n. , pl. martens , ( esp. collectively ) marten .
1. any of several slender, chiefly arboreal carnivores of the genus Martes, of northern forests, having a long, glossy coat and bushy tail.
2. the fur of such an animal, generally a dark brown.
[ 1375-1425; mart marten (c. OE mearth ) + -en -EN 5 ; r. late ME martren martrine marten fur, n. use of fem. of martrin pertaining to a marten, equiv. to martre marten ( Marder ) + -in -IN 1 ]