The Word of the Day comes from GIRL WITH THE PEARL EARING by Tracy Chevalier.
ERMINE
NOUN
ermines (plural noun) · ermine moth (noun) · ermine moths (plural noun)
a stoat, especially when in its white winter coat.
the white fur of the stoat, used for trimming garments, especially the ceremonial robes of judges or peers.
"the men were dressed in costly ermine and sable-edged cloaks"
heraldry
fur represented as black spots on a white ground, as a heraldic tincture.
"on a canton ermine a lion rampant sable"
a stout-bodied moth that has cream or white wings with black spots.
ORIGIN Middle English: from Old Frenchhermine, probably from medieval Latin(mus) Armenius‘Armenian (mouse)’
I would just like to say that I in no way condone the killing of animals just for the aesthetic value of their fur and would like to use this post as a protest against it.
Surely now, in 2020 we have passed the point of people feeling the need to wear "real" fur.