martens

Variant of marten

marten definition

mar·ten (märt′'n)

noun pl. martens -·tens or marten -·ten

  1. any of a genus (Martes) of small musteline carnivores that live chiefly in trees and have a long, slender body, short legs, and soft, thick, valuable fur
  2. the fur

Etymology: ME martren < OFr martrine, adj. < martre, marten < Frank *martar, akin to Ger marder, OE mearth < PGmc marthu- < IE *martu-, bride (euphemism for the taboo IE name); akin to *meri: see marry

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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