Iltis

Meaning

polecat (Mustela putorius)

Concepts

polecat

fitch

polecats

European polecat

western polecat

ferret

Western polecat

fitchew

Mustela eversmanni

Mustela putorius putorius

Synonyms

Waldiltis

Ratz

europäischer Iltis

Stänker

Stinkmarder

Europäischer Iltis

Mustela Eversmanni

Mustela Putorius Putorius

Translations

turón

putois

puzzola

🦨

bunzing

βρωμοκούναβο

kokarca

οζοϊκτίς

turó

Mustela putorius

catpudre

toirăo

mofeta

🦨

mustella

puzzole

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɪltɪs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle High German: iltis

Inherited from Old High German: illitiso, illintiso

Cognate with Ancient Greek: ἰός

Cognate with Latin: virus

In summary

From Middle High German iltis, from Old High German illitiso, illintiso, of uncertain origin.
Perhaps a compound from the Proto-Indo-European roots *h₁el- (“red, brown”) and *weys- (“to flow, run”). The latter was probably used for animal secretions, whence the noun *wiso- or *wisós (“fluidity, slime, reek, poison”), as in Wiesel and Wisent; compare Ancient Greek ἰός (iós) and Latin virus.