Short-tailed weasel Mustela erminea, of the N
hemisphere, whose winter coat becomes white.
In N latitudes the coat becomes completely
white, except for a black tip to the tail,
but in warmer regions the back may remain
brownish. The alternate Eurasian name `stoat'
is used especially during the summer, when
the coat is brown. The fur is used
commercially.

2.
Carnivorous mammal Mustela erminea of the
weasel family, about 37 cm/15 in long
including the black-tipped tail. It has a
long body and a flattened head. The upper
parts and tail are red-brown, and the
underparts are white. Stoats live in Europe,
Asia, and North America. In the colder
regions, the coat turns white (ermine) in
winter.