The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Polecat \Pole"cat`\, n. [Probably fr. F. poule hen, and
   originally, a poultry cat, because it feeds on poultry. See
   Poultry.] (Zool.)
      (a) A small European carnivore of the Weasel family
          (Putorius f[oe]tidus). Its scent glands secrete a
          substance of an exceedingly disagreeable odor. Called
          also fitchet, foulmart, and European ferret.
      (b) The zorilla. The name is also applied to other allied
          species.
          [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Fitchet \Fitch"et\, Fitchew \Fitch"ew\, n. [Cf. OF. fisseau,
   fissel, OD. fisse, visse, vitsche, D. vies nasty, loathsome,
   E. fizz.] (Zool.)
   The European polecat (Putorius f[oe]tidus). See Polecat.
   [1913 Webster]