DCHP-1 Online

marten

• 1 n. the pine marten, Martes americana.

  See also: pine marten  

  • 1697  (1929)  The indians brought some deers flesh and tongues & had given y^e Gov^r. 2 young foxes & one young martin.
  • 1776  (1951)  I gave the Leader a small present desiring them to be diligent in Trapping Martens having told me they are plentiful.
  • 1872  The marten, commonly known as the sable . . . is about the same size as the mink, and differs little from it in form, save that its feet are larger, and hairy to the toes; the tail is also somewhat larger.
  • 1957  Although he traps near the headwaters of the Anderson River where the marten are thick he may only take thirty five per year. . . .

• 2a n. the pelt of the pine marten.

  • 1784  (1954)  They brought 5 martins only, a Fox having tore their traps and ate almost all the martins that were caught.
  • 1948  Fisher, marten, lynx and otter are sold individually, unless well matched

• 2b n. Fur Trade, Hist. See 1907 quote.

  See also: made beaver (def. 1)  

  • 1771  (1964)  For a small brass kettle of two pounds, or two and a half weight, they pay sixty martins, or twenty beaver in other kinds of furrs. . . .
  • 1907  So that the Indian might know the amount of his means of trade the furs were taken in first and valued at a certain well-known currency of that particular part of the country in which he resided, i. e., "Made Beaver" or so many "Martens."