polecat

/ˈpoʊlkæt/
noun
  1. A small, dark-furred mammal of the weasel family, known for its strong smell; found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
    • A polecat lives in the forest and hunts small rodents.
    • The farmer spotted a polecat near the chicken coop last night.
    • Polecats are related to ferrets and have a similar long body.
  2. In North America, a common name for the skunk, especially the striped skunk.
    • In some parts of the US, people call a skunk a polecat.
    • The hiker got too close to a polecat and regretted it immediately.
    • A polecat's spray can be smelled from far away.
  3. An unpleasant or aggressive person.
    • That old polecat next door complains about everything.
    • Don't be such a polecat — try to be nice for once.
    • The boss was a real polecat, always yelling at the staff.
Synonyms
What does "polecat" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean