Iltis

German
Iltis

Etymology

From Middle High German iltis, from Old High German illitiso, illintiso, of uncertain origin.

Perhaps a compound from the Proto-Indo-European roots *h₁el- (“red, brown”) and *weys- (“to flow, run”). The latter was probably used for animal secretions, whence the noun *wiso- or *wisós (“fluidity, slime, reek, poison”), as in Wiesel and Wisent; compare Ancient Greek ἰός (iós) and Latin virus.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈɪltɪs/
  • Audio(file)
  • Hyphenation: Il‧tis

Noun

Iltis m (strong, genitive Iltisses or Iltis, plural Iltisse)

  1. polecat (Mustela putorius)

Declension
Declension of Iltis [masculine, strong]
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Iltis die Iltisse
genitive eines des Iltisses, Iltis der Iltisse
dative einem dem Iltis, Iltisse1 den Iltissen
accusative einen den Iltis die Iltisse

1Now rare, see notes.

Derived terms

Further reading
  • “Iltis” in Duden online
  • “Iltis” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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