Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Weasel \Wea"sel\, n. [OE. wesele, AS. wesle; akin to D. wezel,
   G. wiesel, OHG. wisala, Icel. hreyiv[=i]sla, Dan. v["a]sel,
   Sw. vessla; of uncertain origin; cf. Gr. ?, ?, cat, weasel.]
   (Zo["o]l.)
   Any one of various species of small carnivores belonging to
   the genus {Putorius}, as the ermine and ferret. They have a
   slender, elongated body, and are noted for the quickness of
   their movements and for their bloodthirsty habit in
   destroying poultry, rats, etc. The ermine and some other
   species are brown in summer, and turn white in winter; others
   are brown at all seasons.

   {Malacca weasel}, the rasse.

   {Weasel coot}, a female or young male of the smew; -- so
      called from the resemblance of the head to that of a
      weasel. Called also {weasel duck}.

   {Weasel lemur}, a short-tailed lemur ({Lepilemur
      mustelinus}). It is reddish brown above, grayish brown
      below, with the throat white.

Rasse \Rasse\, n. [Cf. Malay r[=a]sa taste, sensation.]
   (Zo["o]l.)
   A carnivore ({Viverricula Mallaccensis}) allied to the civet
   but smaller, native of China and the East Indies. It
   furnishes a perfume resembling that of the civet, which is
   highly prized by the Javanese. Called also {Malacca weasel},
   and {lesser civet}.