- American marten
- marten mar"ten, n. [From older martern, marter, martre, F.
martre, marte, LL. martures (pl.), fr. L. martes; akin to AS.
mear[eth], meard, G. marder, OHG. mardar, Icel. m["o]r[eth]r.
Cf. {Foumart}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several fur-bearing carnivores of
the genus {Martes} (formerly {Mustela}), closely allied to
the sable. Among the more important species are the
European {beech marten} or {stone marten} ({Martes
foina}); the {pine marten} ({Martes martes}); and the
{American marten}, or {sable} ({Martes Americana}), which
some zo["o]logists consider only a variety of the Russian
sable.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. The fur of the marten, used for hats, muffs, etc. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
