marten

Etymology 1

From Middle English martren, martryn, from Old French martrine (“marten fur”), from Old Dutch *marthrīn (“of marten fur”), from *marthar (“marten”). Displaced Old English mearþ, from Proto-Germanic *marþuz.

noun

  1. Any carnivorous mammal of the genus Martes in the family Mustelidae.

Etymology 2

noun

  1. Archaic form of martin (the bird)
    Towards the end of the month, swallows and house martens congregate, and are often seen resting on the ridges or sloping roofs of buildings. 1829, Magazine of Natural History, volume 1, page 402

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