The Mink Is a Swimming Weasel
A mink is a small semi-aquatic carnivore. Its name came into English from Swedish.
A mink is a small semi-aquatic carnivore of the weasel family, long farmed for its dense fur. Its coat is waterproof because of a double layer: long oily guard hairs shed water while a thick underfur traps air and stays dry, the same arrangement that makes otter fur work. That structure, not the colour, is what made mink the most valuable farmed fur. The American mink introduced to Europe has escaped from farms and now threatens native water voles.
- A semi-aquatic weasel. *An American mink.*
- The fur. *A mink coat.*
- Guard hairs — the outer layer. *Guard hairs.*
- Mustelid — the family. *A mustelid.*
- Swedish — *mänk*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mink | A mink. |
| Plural | mink or minks | Mink. |
| Family | Mustelidae | Mustelidae. |
| Related | weasel | A weasel. |
| Swedish | mänk | A mink. |
- A mink slipped into the river.Animal.
- The coat was mink.Fur.
- Guard hairs shed water.Biology.
The weasel family
- Weasel and stoat — the smallest members
- Mink and otter — adapted for water
- Badger — heavy and burrowing
- Marten and fisher — climbers
- All are mustelids, with scent glands and long bodies
From Swedish *mänk*, a mink, recorded in English from the 1400s.
Why is mink fur waterproof?
Long oily guard hairs shed water while a dense underfur traps air and stays dry, the same structure otters have.
Is the mink related to the otter?
Yes. Both belong to the weasel family, and both are adapted to hunting in water.