- hermines

HERMINES. Ermine represented by Ermines ; i.e. white ermine spots on black. P. 1. (ELVN)

hermine, hermines - stoat (but, v. hermine, below). Found largely in the heraldry of Bretagne. [FRENCHGLOSSAR]

hermine - ermine. The term probably derives from Lat. mus Armenius, Armenian mouse, known in England as the stoat, mustela erminea. Fr. blazon is the same as Eng. in respect of the different types of ermine: hermine: white with black spots; contre-hermine: black with white spots; ermines: black with gold spots, pean in English (the origin of the term is unknown); erminois: gold with black spots. In fact, these variations are rare in France. [FRENCHGLOSSAR]