General
polecat
What does polecat mean?
An Appalachian and Southern term for a skunk (the true polecat is a European animal).
"Something smells like a polecat got under the porch."
Origin
Transferred from the European polecat (a musky weasel-relative) to the North American skunk by early settlers.
Frequently asked questions
What does polecat mean in Southern English?
It's a regional word for a skunk, even though the true polecat is actually a European weasel-relative.
Why is a skunk called a polecat?
Early settlers transferred the name of the musky European polecat to the similarly smelly North American skunk.
Is polecat an insult?
It can be used figuratively for a contemptible person, but in its animal sense it's just a regional word for skunk.
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