ermyne

Middle English

Etymology 1

ermyn (ermine)

Borrowed from Old French ermine, ermin; further etymology is disputed.

Alternative forms

• armyn, armyne, ermin, ermine, ermyn, hermyn

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛrˈmiːn/, /arˈmiːn/
• (with retracted stress) IPA^(key): /ˈɛrmin/, /ˈarmin/

Noun

ermyne (plural ermynes)

1. The distinctive white pelt of the ermine.
2. (heraldry) Heraldic ermine; white with black spots.
3. (rare) A ermine (the weasel Mustela erminea)

Descendants

• English: ermine
• Scots: ermine

References

• “ermīn, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-29.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Middle French erminé; equivalent to ermyn +‎ -e (participial suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛrmiˈneː/

Adjective

ermyne

1. (rare, heraldry) Having an inverted ermine pattern (black spots on white)

References

• “erminē (adj.), ppl).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-31.