1. (n.) A valuable fur-bearing animal of the genus Mustela (M. erminea), allied to the weasel; the stoat. It is found in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. In summer it is brown, but in winter it becomes white, except the tip of the tail, which is always black.

2. (n.) The fur of the ermine, as prepared for ornamenting garments of royalty, etc., by having the tips of the tails, which are black, arranged at regular intervals throughout the white.

3. (n.) By metonymy, the office or functions of a judge, whose state robe, lined with ermine, is emblematical of purity and honor without stain.

4. (n.) One of the furs. See Fur (Her.)

5. (v. t.) To clothe with, or as with, ermine.

Australian seal achievement alerion animal charge annulet argent armorial bearings armory arms azure bandeau bar bar sinister baton bearings bearskin beaver beaverette bend bend sinister billet black fox black marten black sable blazon blazonry bordure broad arrow brook mink buckskin cadency mark calf calfskin canton cap of dignity cap of maintenance capeskin cat chaplet charge chevron chief chinchilla chinchillette coast seal coat of arms cockatrice coney coronet cowhide crescent crest cross cross moline crown deerskin device diadem difference differencing doeskin eagle electric seal ermines erminites erminois escutcheon falcon fess fess point field file flanch fleece fleur-de-lis fox fret fur furs fusil garland genet goatskin great seal griffin gules gyron hatchment helmet heraldic device honor point impalement impaling inescutcheon jaguar label lapin leopard lion lozenge mantling marmot marshaling marten martlet mascle merino metal mink mole moleskin monkey motto mullet muskrat nombril point nutria octofoil or orb ordinary orle otter pale paly pean pelts pheon pigskin privy seal purple purple pall purpure quarter quartering rabbit rabbitskin raccoon regalia robe of state rod rod of empire rose royal crown sable saltire scepter scutcheon seal shagreen sheepskin shield signet skunk spread eagle squirrel subordinary tenne tiara tiger tincture torse tressure triple plume unicorn uraeus vair vert white fox wool wreath yale