| 释义 |
polecatn. Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: an element of uncertain origin, cat n.1 Etymology: < a first element of uncertain and disputed origin + cat n.1Various suggestions have been made as to the origin of the first element, but the case even for the more commonly cited ones appears to be stronger on semantic than on formal grounds. The most widespread suggestion is that the first element represents Old French poule , polle , Middle French poule hen (see pull n.2), with reference to the polecat's supposed appetite for chickens; Middle Eng. Dict. at pole-cat suggests that such a compound may perhaps have existed in Anglo-Norman, but a premodifying compound would be a very unusual word-formation type in French. On the other hand, many variant forms of the English word would accord with this derivation; compare also sparrow-hawk n., goshawk n., honey bear n., which would be similarly motivated. Alternatively, it has been suggested that the first element may be related to Anglo-Norman pulent , pullent and Old French, Middle French pullent stinking, disgusting, dirty (first half of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman; < an unattested post-classical Latin adjective *putulentus < classical Latin pūtēre to stink (see putor n.) + -ulentus -ulent suffix). For the semantic motivation compare Old French chat putois (13th cent.), Middle French ca puteis (15th cent. in an isolated attestation; French chat putois polecat, literally ‘stinking cat’ (1752 in Trévoux, now widespread regionally)). However, loss of the second syllable of pulent , pullent would not be easy to account for (reanalysis as the present participle of a verb might be possible, but forms of Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French puir , puer to stink (see puant adj.) with medial -l- are not attested). For semantic reasons it is very unlikely that the first element should have been pole n.1; however, as many variant forms (including the standard spelling) show, the first element was apparently reinterpreted as pole n.1 from an early date. The form pow-cat apparently shows the northern English reflex of pole n.1 (compare the etymological discussion at that entry). 1. Also with unmarked plural. the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Mustelidae (weasel, marten, otter, or badger) > [noun] > genus Mustela (weasel) > mustela putorius (polecat) 1320 No. 27205 Item, in deuoracione per Polcat, vj. c1390 G. Chaucer 855 Ther was a polcat [v.r. polkat] in his hawe That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde yslawe. (Harl. 221) 407 (MED) Polkat, idem quod fulmere. c1450 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker (1884) I. 601/13 Pecoides, a ffulmere or a Pulkat. 1545 R. Ascham i. f. 18 Nyghtecrowes and poulcattes, foxes and foumerdes, with all other vermine. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny I. 218 Grayes, Polcats and Brocks. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. i. 25 Powlcats? there are fairer things then Powlcats, sure. View more context for this quotation 1698 E. Ward I. ii. 14 Shot that into his Trousers which made the Crooked Vermin out stink a Poll-Cat. 1715 J. Gay i. i. 10 How should he then Who kill'd but Poulcats, learn to murder Men? 1774 O. Goldsmith III. 363 The Polecat is larger than the weasel, the ermine, or the ferret, being one foot five inches long. 1828 W. Carr (ed. 2) Pow-cat, the pole cat. 1876 S. Smiles vii. 111 The bite..of a polecat..is anything but agreeable. 1974 W. Condry vi. 77 Badger, stoat, weasel and polecat all belong to the weasel family. 1993 2 Nov. 10/5 The polecat was back in force in Wales and ‘established in some numbers’ in several English counties. the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Mustelidae (weasel, marten, otter, or badger) > [noun] > member of the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Mustelidae (weasel, marten, otter, or badger) > [noun] > genus Mephitis (skunk) 1605 J. Rosier sig. E4 A briefe Note of what Profits we saw the Countrey yeeld in the small time of our stay there... Polcats. Wilde great Cats [etc.]. 1694 (Royal Soc.) 18 124 There are [in Virginia] several sorts of Wild Cats, and Poll-Cats. 1781 S. Peters 252 The Skunk is..very different from the Pole-Cat, which he is sometimes called. 1827 E. Griffith et al. II. 135 The Polecat of the Cape. 1860 J. W. Warter II. 210 During the long winter, it [sc. the Mustela vison of North America] leaves the frozen waters, and preys like other polecats on mice and land animals. 1917 132/1 The Skunk..is known in different localities by special names, such as ‘wood-pussy’, ‘essence-peddler’, and ‘pole-cat’. 1937 H. Klein xxiv. 208 A muishond (pole-cat) startled the town-bred horse, and away he galloped. 1948 13 Dec. 29/1 He hunted wildcat, bobcat, polecat, foxes, coons, possums and rabbits. 1975 E. Wigginton 101 Polecats was bad t' come in and catch the chickens at night. 2004 (Nexis) 26 Dec. 8 c Pepe Le Pew is a cute cartoon polecat. the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [noun] > state or quality of being contemptible > contemptible person society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > a prostitute 1593 G. Harvey 178 The shambles of beastlines, the poulkat of Pouls-churchyard, the shrich-owle of London. 1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster i. sig. A2 To take their leaues of their London Polecats, (their wenches I meane Sir). a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. ii. 172 Out of my doore, you Witch, you Ragge, you Baggage, you Poulcat, you Runnion, out, out. View more context for this quotation a1634 J. Day (Lansd. 725) f. 24 Hees a male Powle catt, a mere hart blood soaker. 1717 R. L'Estrange & J. Ozell tr. A. de Castillo Solórzano (title) The Spanish pole-cat; or, The Adventures of Seniora Rufina. 1790 J. Wolcot ii. vi Brudenell, thou stinkest; weazel, polecat, fly! a1849 E. Elliott (1876) II. xxiii. 286 Calabrian Polecat! many dead are thine: Twice on thy people's heart's blood hast thou fed. 1896 Mar. 578 Stand on your laigs, you polecat, and say you're a liar. 1935 A. J. Pollock 90/1 Pole cat, a whore; harlot; prostitute. 1966 J. J. Phillips viii. 79 Damn it, man, I'm got to cut your throat, you big black-assed mammy-fucking polecat. 1991 B. Howell (BNC) 187 ‘Go and have a bath, you putrid polecat,’ I screamed. Compounds C1. attributive. 1631 P. Fletcher I ij That same Foolishes had a pole-cat head. 1875 J. A. Stevens tr. H. Taine xii. 155 This lawyer, with his wide-awake, polecat head and his shining spectacles. 1596 T. Nashe sig. H3 With one Pol-cat perfume or another hee will poyson thee. 1914 12 May 2/3 If you should accidentally collide with a skunk don't burn nor bury your raiment: hang it over smoking cedar and it will soon lose that polecat perfume. C2. the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Mustelidae (weasel, marten, otter, or badger) > [noun] > genus Mustela (weasel) > mustela furo (ferret) 1768 R. Smith 77 Of these animals there are two kinds or species, the white Ferret, and the polecat Ferret. so called from its great resemblance to the polecat. 1893 J. Watson 123 In the north we have two varieties of ferret,—one a brown colour, the polecat-ferret; the other the common white. 1997 21 Nov. 25/1 They also come in a variety of coloured marking with brown and black belly, leg, tail and so on, and in this colouration are known as polecat-ferrets. the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Araceae (wake-robin and allies) > [noun] 1743 J. F. Gronovius II. 186 Calla aquatilis odore alii vehemente praedita, radice repente, vulgo Pole Cadweed [1762 Pole-Cat-weed]. 1771 J. R. Forster Catal. Plants N. Amer. in tr. J. B. Bossu II. 57 Dracontium foetidum, Pole-cat weed, Skunk weed. 1854 J. King 922 The whole plant, especially when bruised, emits a very disagreeable alliaceous odour, which has given rise to several names, Skunk-weed, Skunk-cabbage, Pole-cat weed, and Meadow-cabbage. 1884 W. Miller 110/2 Pole-cat-weed... Wild. Convolvulus panduratus. 1972 2 Apr. 13/3 The skunk cabbage or pole cat weed which blooms in early March or April. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  n.1320 |
