# What is a polecat? Question for British Dopers. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 11, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-polecat-question-for-british-dopers/233588 "2004-03-11T00:52:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-polecat-question-for-british-dopers/233588/1 "2004-03-11T00:52:45Z")
In the short story “Shredni-Vashtar” by Saki(H.H. Munro), the animal the boy names Shredni-Vastar is called a polecat. Here in the USA polecat is a term that can be used for skunk. But based on the description of the animal(it’s caged in a shed, and not tamed), it sounds larger and fiercer than a skunk. SV kills a human being in the story, the boy’s aunt. However, I still don’t know what it’s actually supposed to be. If any British Dopers can shed some light on this I would appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-polecat-question-for-british-dopers/233588/2 "2004-03-11T00:57:03Z")
Wild ferret, basically. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-polecat-question-for-british-dopers/233588/3 "2004-03-11T01:23:39Z")
Here’s a good picture. [http://www.uksafari.com/polecats.htm](http://www.uksafari.com/polecats.htm) ---
**Author:** ![\_ceQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b9bd4f/32.png) [@\_ceQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_ceQueen)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-polecat-question-for-british-dopers/233588/4 "2004-03-11T01:35:46Z")
Maybe it’s like calling somebody a weasel? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-polecat-question-for-british-dopers/233588/5 "2004-03-11T01:49:36Z")
:clears throat: “I’m a lonesome polecat Lonesome, sad and blue ‘Cause I ain’t got no feminine polecat Vowin’ to be true…” ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-polecat-question-for-british-dopers/233588/6 "2004-03-11T02:07:17Z")
Thanks for the information **DrFidelisus.** I’ve wondered for a long time about that. **ArchiveGuy**? \*Seven Brides for Seven Brothers \* is one of my all time favorite movies! ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-polecat-question-for-british-dopers/233588/7 "2004-03-11T02:57:01Z")
This has already been answered, but here’s some more info from [http://m-w.com/](http://m-w.com/) : Main Entry: pole·cat Pronunciation: 'pOl-"kat Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural polecats or polecat Etymology: Middle English polcat, probably from Middle French poul, pol cock + Middle English cat; probably from its preying on poultry – more at PULLET 1 : any of several carnivorous mammals (as of the genera Mustela or Vormela) of the weasel family; especially : a brown to black European mammal (M. putorius) from which the domesticated ferret is derived 2 : SKUNK So, basically, the etymology of “polecat” is “chicken-eating cat.” And although both animals using this name belong to the caniform line of carnivores, they are somewhat cat-like in appearance, the skunk moreso than the ferret. However, I’d rather deal with the residue of a cat’s spray than a skunk’s _any_ day of the week. ---
**Author:** ![Time\_Like\_Tears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Time\_Like\_Tears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Like_Tears)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-polecat-question-for-british-dopers/233588/8 "2004-03-11T05:26:44Z")
-hijack here- I know we’re not talking about skunks here, but in the American South, ‘polecat’ is used as a word for skunk. The funniest thing I may have ever heard was a girl from Alabama say (imagine this phrase as a replacement for ‘Well I’ll be damned’) was: “Well stripe my hide like a polecat and I’ll stink my way to Hell!” or “Wayull stripe mah hide like a polecayut 'n Ah’ll stank mah way tuh Hayull!” I almost peed my pants.