ERMIN, an order of knights, instituted in 1450 by Francis I. duke of Bretagne, and formerly subsisting in France. The collar of this order was of gold, composed of ears of corn in saltier; at the end of which hung the ermin, with this inscription, a ma vie. But the order expired when the dukedom of Bretagne was annexed to the crown of France.
Ermines Ermines, in heraldry, the reverse of ermine, i. e. white spots on a black field.
Erminites ERMINITES, in heraldry, should signify little ermines, but it is otherwise; for it signifies a white field powdered with black, only that every such spot hath a little red hair on each.—Erminites also signify a yellow field powdered with black, which the French express much better by or semé d'ermine de sable.