fisher

/fish"euhr/, n.

1. any animal that catches fish for food.

2. a fisherman.

3. a dark-brown or blackish marten, Martes pennanti, of northern North America.

4. the fur of this animal.

[bef. 900; ME fisscher fisherman, OE fiscere. See FISH, -ER¹]

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I

Rare species of marten (Martes pennanti, family Mustelidae) found in northern forests of North America.

The fisher is related to weasels and is similarly shaped. It has a bushy tail, tapered muzzle and low, rounded ears. Adults are usually 20–25 in. (50–63 cm) long, excluding the 13–17-in. (33–43-cm) tail, and weigh 3–15 lb (1.4–6.8 kg). Fishers hunt on the ground and in trees, attacking various rodents and other animals; they also eat fruits and sometimes nuts. It has been trapped for its valuable brownish black fur.

II

(as used in expressions)

Ames Fisher

Fisher Irving

Fisher of Kilverstone John Arbuthnot Fisher 1st Baron

Fisher Sir Ronald Aylmer

Gosden Freeman Fisher and Correll Charles J.

Winchester Oliver Fisher

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▪ mammal

also called  fisher marten,  fisher cat,  Pennant's marten,  Pennant's cat,  big marten,  black fox,  black cat , or  Pekan (species Martes pennanti) 

 rare North American carnivore of northern forests, trapped for its valuable brownish black fur (especially fine in the female). It is a member of the weasel family (Mustelidae). The fisher has a weasellike body, bushy tail, tapered muzzle, and low, rounded ears. Adults are usually 50–63 cm (20–25 inches) long, excluding the 33–42-centimetre tail, and weigh 1.4–6.8 kg (3–15 pounds). Males are larger and heavier than the females. The fisher hunts both on the ground and in trees, attacking various rodents (including porcupines) and other animals. Its diet also consists of fruits and sometimes nuts. A litter contains one to five young, born after a gestation period of 338–358 days, including a delay before implantation of the fertilized egg in the wall of the uterus.

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