mink

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Any of various semiaquatic carnivores of the genus Mustela, especially M. vison of North America, resembling the weasel and having short ears, a pointed snout, short legs, and partly webbed toes.
2. n. The soft thick lustrous fur of this animal.
3. n. A coat, stole, or hat made of the fur of this animal.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. An American digitigrade carnivorous quadruped of the family Mustelidæ, Putorius (Lutreola) vison, of semi-aquatic habits. The mink belongs to the same genus as the stoats and weasels, but to a different subgenus, its form being modified in adaptation to its aquatic habits, in which respect it approaches the otters. It was once called lesser otter. It is larger and stouter than any stoat, with shorter ears, uniformly bushy tail, and half-webbed feet; the color is rich dark chestnut-brown, blackening on the back and tail; the chin, and usually some irregular patches on the throat, breast, or belly, are white. It is 15 to 18 inches long, the tail 6 or 8 inches more. It is found everywhere in North America in suitable places; its fur is valuable, and the animal is systematically trapped, especially in British America. Like its relatives, the mink exhales a strong musky odor, and is destructive to poultry. It has been tamed, and bred in minkeries, like the ferret. The little black or mountain mink, described by Audubon and Bachman as a distinct species, P. ngrescens, is a small dark variety. The corresponding animal in Europe is P. lutreola, commonly called norz or nörz. and by its Swedish name mank (sometimes mank)— the designation European mink being a late book-name. It is much like the American mink, but its average size is smaller, and it usually has the upper lip as well as the chin white, and presents certain dental peculiarities. The Siberian mink, lately so called, is the kulon, P. sibiricus, a quite different species. Also called vison.
2. n. Same as kingfish .

Wiktionary

1. n. Any of various semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals in the Mustelinae subfamily, similar to weasels, with dark fur, native to Europe and America, of which two species in different genera are extant.
2. n. An article of clothing made of mink.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Zoöl.) A carnivorous mammal of the genus Mustela (foremrly Putorius), allied to the weasel. The European mink is Mustela lutreola. The common American mink (Mustela vison) varies from yellowish brown to black. Its fur is highly valued. Called also minx, nurik, and vison.
2. n. The fur of the mink{1}. Together with sable, it is one of the most expensive furs not taken from endangerd species. When the fur is taken from animals grown on a farm, it called ranch mink.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. fur coat made from the soft lustrous fur of minks
2. n. the expensive fur of a mink
3. n. slender-bodied semiaquatic mammal having partially webbed feet; valued for its fur