The word "ermine" entered English in the 12th century from Anglo-French ermine (also hermine), likely from Medieval Latin (mus) Armenius — "Armenian (mouse)" — reflecting a medieval belief that the animal originated in Armenia. While the stoat (Mustela erminea) is found across the Northern Hemisphere rather than specifically in Armenia, the association may reflect ancient trade routes through which the prized white pelts reached European markets.
The stoat's remarkable adaptation — turning from brown in summer to pure white in winter, with only the black tail tip remaining unchanged — made ermine one of the most valued furs in medieval and early modern Europe. The white winter coat provided effective camouflage in snowy landscapes, but for human purposes, its value was symbolic: white fur represented purity, and the black tail tip provided a striking visual contrast that became the basis for one of heraldry's most distinctive patterns.
In heraldic terminology, "ermine" describes a specific tincture (fur): a white field covered with regularly spaced black spots representing the stoat's tail tips. The reverse — black field with white spots — is called "counter-ermine" or "ermines." These heraldic furs appear on coats of arms, flags, and ceremonial objects throughout European heraldry, and the ermine pattern is instantly recognizable as a symbol of royal or noble authority.
The use of ermine in ceremonial robes has an extensive history. English monarchs have worn ermine-trimmed coronation robes since the medieval period. Peers of the realm wear ermine on their parliamentary robes, with the number of rows indicating rank: barons have two rows, viscounts two and a half, earls three, marquesses three and a half, and dukes four. British judges traditionally wore ermine-trimmed robes, though reforms have simplified judicial dress in recent decades. The association between ermine and
According to legend, the stoat (in its white winter coat) was so proud of its pure white fur that it would allow itself to be captured rather than flee through mud and dirty its coat. This legend — whether or not it reflects actual animal behaviour — was widely cited in medieval bestiaries and moral literature as an example of honour and purity. The motto "Malo mori quam foedari" (Better to die than to be defiled) was associated with the ermine and adopted by several noble families.