An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Iltis

by Friedrich Kluge

Iltis, masculine, ‘polecat,’ from the equivalent Middle High German iltī̆s, ëltes, Old High German illitī̆so, masculine (the long î is assumed by the Modern High German and Bavarian form Elledeis); a specifically German term based upon an old compound which has not as yet been explained.