1. Also called (formerly): foumart (ˈfʊmət), foulmart (ˈfʊlmət)
a dark brown musteline mammal, Mustela putorius, of woodlands of Europe, Asia, and N Africa, that is closely related to but larger than the weasel and gives off an unpleasant smell
See also sweet marten
2.
any of various related animals, such as the marbled polecat,Vormela peregusna
3. US a nontechnical name for skunk (sense 1)
Word origin
C14 polcat, perhaps from Old French pol cock, from Latin pullus, + cat1; from its habit of preying on poultry