'armine' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'hermine', where it referred to the stoat (the animal) or its winter fur.

'hermine' in Old French passed into Middle English as 'ermine' or variant 'armine', and over time the forms 'ermine' and 'armine' have both appeared in English, with 'ermine' becoming the more common modern form while 'armine' remains in historical, heraldic, or onomastic (name) use.

Initially, it meant 'the stoat in its white winter coat or its fur, used as luxury trimming'; over time the sense narrowed in common English to 'ermine' while 'armine' survived chiefly in heraldic descriptions and as a personal name.