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black-footed ferret
noun
: a rare weasel (Mustela nigripes) of western North American prairies having a yellowish coat, dark feet and facial mask, and a dark-tipped tail
Examples of black-footed ferret in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ten black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced to the Aubrey Valley/Double O Ranch area, Arizona's only active recovery site for these elusive creatures, after years of intensive research and strategic intervention.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
Wildlife conservationists are celebrating a big milestone reached by a little black-footed ferret and her offspring, born at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute earlier this year.
—Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2024
In 2020, conservationists achieved a major milestone with the birth of a black-footed ferret named Elizabeth Ann, who was the first clone of Willa.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
The search is on:Scouring the Arizona desert for black-footed ferrets
'Little vampires' try to adapt to habitat
Prairie dogs make up roughly 90% of a black-footed ferret’s diet and provide their only source of shelter.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 23 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1846, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of black-footed ferret was
in 1846
Dictionary Entries Near black-footed ferret
Cite this Entry
“Black-footed ferret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black-footed%20ferret. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
black-footed ferret
noun
black-foot·ed ferret
ˈblak-ˌfu̇t-əd-
: an endangered weasel of western North American prairies having a yellowish coat, black feet and face markings, and a black-tipped tail
More from Merriam-Webster on black-footed ferret
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about black-footed ferret
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