weasel

Plural: weasels

Noun

• a person who is regarded as treacherous or sneaky
• small carnivorous mammal with short legs and elongated body and neck
• Any of the carnivorous mammals of the genera Mustela, Neogale, Poecilogale, and Lyncodon, having a slender body, a long tail and usually a light brown upper coat and light-coloured belly.
• A least weasel (Mustela nivalis).
• Any of certain other species of the family Mustelidae.
• A devious or sneaky person or animal.
• A type of yarn winder used for counting the yardage of handspun yarn. It most commonly has a wooden peg or dowel that pops up from the gearing mechanism after a certain number of yards have been wound onto the winder.

Verb

Verb Forms: weaseled, weaseling, weasels, weaselled, weaselling

• To avoid or escape from a difficult situation evasively.
• To achieve by clever or devious means.
• To gain something for oneself by clever or devious means.
• To engage in clever or devious behavior.

Examples

• He tried to weasel out of a bad rack by playing a short, uncreative word.

Synonyms

mustela

Related Words

ferret, mink, polecat, stoat, weasel into, weasel one's way, weasel out

Anagrams of weasel