Ermine

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Ermine

Ermine has several meanings:-

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Ermine has several meanings:-

The name for the stoat
Stoat

The stoat is a small mammal of the family Mustelidae. In North America it is known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel; elsewhere, "ermine" refers to the animal only when it has white fur, which it moults to in winter in snowy parts of its range....
(Mustela erminea) when it is in its white winter pelage; in North America also the most usual common name for the species, though it is also called the short-tailed weasel).
The white fur of this animal, which is historically worn by and associated with royalty
Royal family

A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term "imperial family" more appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress regnant, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate in reference to the relatives of a reigning duke, grand duke, or prince....
and nobility
Nobility

Nobility is a government-privileged title which may be either hereditary or for a lifetime. Titles of nobility exist today in many countries although it is usually associated with present or former monarchies....
, and is nowadays used for the bordering of judge
Judge

A judge, or arbiter of justice, is a lead official who presides over a court of law,which is operated by the local, state, and/or federal government....
s' robes in France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
and the UK and members of the UK House of Lords
House of Lords

The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords". The Parliament comprises the British monarchy, the British House of Commons , and the Lords....
, and the winter Papal mozzetta of the Pope
Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
. The valuable ermine fur has the black tail-end, which is kept when the garment is made; the skin of an albino stoat is not the same.
Ermine
Ermine (heraldry)

In heraldry, ermine is one of the furs used in blazon, representing the skin of the ermine, known in medieval Latin as armenius . In winter the stoat has white fur and a black tail; heraldic ermine represents a number of skins sewn together, forming a pattern of sable spots on argent ....
is a tincture
Tincture (heraldry)

In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to blazon a coat of arms....
used in heraldry
Heraldry

Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of devising, granting, and blazoning Coat of arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms....
, white with small black marks representing the tail-ends of ermine fur.
Ermine marks are dark patches of color on the white limb of a horse, just above the level of the hoof
Hoof

File:Horse rear hooves.jpgA hoof is the tip of a toe of an ungulate mammal, strengthened by a thick horny covering. The hoof consists of a hard or rubbery sole, and a hard wall formed by a thick Nail rolled around the tip of the toe....
.