noun Uncommon

weasel

WEEZL

Weasel (noun) means a small, slender carnivorous mammal with a long body and short legs, related to the stoat and ferret. Example: “A weasel darted across the path and vanished into the hedge.”

noun

A small, slender carnivorous mammal with a long body and short legs, related to the stoat and ferret.

"A weasel darted across the path and vanished into the hedge."

A sneaky or deceitful person.

"He's a weasel who'll say anything to avoid blame."

verb

To get out of an obligation or gain something through evasive, dishonest means.

"She tried to weasel out of paying her share of the bill."

How to use weasel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small predatory animal, or informally, someone sneaky and untrustworthy.

Common pairings

weasel out of weasel words

Word forms

weaselled past tense, weaseled past tense, weasels plural, weasels singular

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A _____ darted across the path and vanished into the hedge.

Etymology

From Old English weosule, an ancient Germanic word for the animal.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for weasel

Basel easel

See all rhymes for weasel →

Frequently asked questions

What does “weasel” mean?

The word “weasel” means a small, slender carnivorous mammal with a long body and short legs, related to the stoat and ferret. In plain terms, a small predatory animal, or informally, someone sneaky and untrustworthy.

How do you pronounce “weasel”?

“Weasel” is pronounced WEEZL (/ˈwizəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “weasel” in a sentence?

Here is “weasel” used in a sentence: “A weasel darted across the path and vanished into the hedge.”

What part of speech is “weasel”?

Depending on how it is used, “weasel” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “weasel” come from?

The word “weasel” comes from Old English. From Old English weosule, an ancient Germanic word for the animal.

Is “weasel” a common word?

“Weasel” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “weasel” have?

“Weasel” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, slender carnivorous mammal with a long body and short legs, related to the stoat and ferret.