The Collaborative International Dictionary
Ermine \Er"mine\, n. [OF. ermine, F. hermine, prob. of German origin; cf. OHG. harmo, G. hermelin, akin to Lith. szarm?, szarmonys, weasel, cf. AS. hearma; but cf. also LL. armelinus, armellina, hermellina, and pellis Armenia, the fur of the Armenian rat, mus Armenius, the animal being found also in Armenia.]
(Zo["o]l.) A valuable fur-bearing animal of the genus Mustela ( M. erminea), allied to the weasel; the stoat. It is found in the northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. In summer it is brown, but in winter it becomes white, except the tip of the tail, which is always black.
The fur of the ermine, as prepared for ornamenting garments of royalty, etc., by having the tips of the tails, which are black, arranged at regular intervals throughout the white.
By metonymy, the office or functions of a judge, whose state robe, lined with ermine, is emblematical of purity and honor without stain.
--Chatham.-
(Her.) One of the furs. See Fur (Her.)
Note: Ermine is represented by an argent field, tufted with black. Ermines is the reverse of ermine, being black, spotted or timbered with argent. Erminois is the same as ermine, except that or is substituted for argent.
Ermine moth (Zo["o]l.), a white moth with black spots (esp. Yponomeuta padella of Europe); -- so called on account of the resemblance of its covering to the fur of the ermine; also applied to certain white bombycid moths of America.
Wikipedia
The orchard ermine (Yponomeuta padella) is a lepidoptera from the family Yponomeutidae, the ermine moths. The wingspan ranges from 19 to 22 mm. It is also known as the cherry ermine.
The flight time ranges from July to August. The moth is attracted to light.
Similar species (also destructive pests):
- Apple ermine moth (AEM) Yponomeuta malinellus
- Bird-cherry ermine Yponomeuta evonymella