Ermine

(Fr.) Hermines

One of the furs used in blazoning, representing the skin of the little animal of that name. A field of ermine is white sprinkled with black spots of a particular shape.

The skin of the ermine is wholly white, and the tail black, which furriers then sew upon the white. This kind of fur has been used for the lining of robes of state of emperors, kings and princes at an early period. The black spots in ermine are not of any determinate number, but generally left to the discretion of the painter, engraver or furrier. See Tincture