mink

Everyday

1. A small, long, thin animal of the weasel family with dark brown fur, living near rivers and lakes and good at swimming and hunting. tree →
2. Its soft, shiny fur, made into expensive coats, or a coat made of it: «a mink coat». tree →

In the lessons

In nature lessons: the American mink escaped from fur farms in Britain and Ireland and now hunts water voles (like Ratty!) and birds, so it is a problem for river wildlife. Many people think killing animals for fur is cruel; fur farming is now banned in the UK and some other countries. The Wind in the Willows has stoats, weasels and ferrets of the same family.

Examples

• A mink slipped into the river and swam away. tree →
• American mink hunt water voles along British rivers. tree →
• The rich lady wore a mink coat. tree →
• Fur farming of mink is banned in the UK. tree →
• Mink are good swimmers and divers. tree →
• The mink has a thick, dark brown coat. tree →
• There, just as he had hoped, he saw the chief mink fishing in a canoe. tree →

Note

Plural: «mink» or «minks». Related to stoats, weasels, otters and ferrets (the mustelid family).