Now arch. or poet. Also 6–7 armelin(e, ermilin, h)ermeline, (7 armlin), 6 ermly. [The immediate source is uncertain: the word appears in most of the Romanic langs.; It. armellino, ermellino, Sp. armelina, Fr. hermeline (Boiste), armeline (Cotgr.), med.L. armelīnus (in Fr. documents of 13th c.).
The ulterior etymology shares in the uncertainty belonging to that of the synonymous ERMINE. If the latter be of Teut. origin, the Romanic forms above cited must be regarded as ad. MHG. hermelîn (mod.G. hermelin), dim. of harme:—OHG. harmo (see ERMINE). If the alternative view be correct, the med.L. type armelīnus must be a diminutive or adjectival formation on armenius, and the MHG. hermelîn an adoption from Romanic, though perh. influenced by association with the native word.]
1. The animal called ermine; = ERMINE 1.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 323. Sables, Marternes, Hermelines.
1590. Greene, Never too late (1600), 34. Adamants that will draw youth as … ye sight of the Panther, the Ermly.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., III. ii. 25. And on his shield enueloped seuenfold He bore a crowned little Ermelin.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 405. The Armelins are called Alpine Mice.
c. 1630. Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Wks. 3. Fair yokes of ermelines, whose colour pass The whitest snows.
1742. Shenstone, School-mistress, 171, Wks. (1795), 268. Fair as the furry coat of whitish ermilin.
2. The skin or fur of this animal.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 311. Furres which wee caule Armelines.
1818. Milman, Samor, 38. Of silver and of stainless ermelin The bright caparisons.
1831. Fraser’s Mag., IV. 549. Who she that, in the ermelin involved, Rests on the hastening car? Ibid., IV. 550. O thou, involved in ermelin!
