marten
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marten
A small, slender predator with a long body and short legs. Martens are known for sometimes biting through cables and hoses in cars.
Der Motor sprang nicht an, weil ein Marder das Zündkabel zerfressen hatte.
The engine would not start because a marten had chewed through the ignition cable.
In Germany, the 'Marder' (marten) is especially known for causing damage to cars by biting through cables and hoses in the engine compartment. This damage is colloquially called 'Marderschaden' (marten damage).
Meine Autowerkstatt hat bestätigt, dass es ein Marderschaden war.
My auto repair shop confirmed that it was marten damage.
When talking about damage caused by martens, verbs like 'durchbeißen' (to bite through), 'zerbeißen' (to chew up), or 'anfressen' (to gnaw at) are often used. These describe the destruction of soft car parts.
Ein Marder hat über Nacht den Kühlwasserschlauch durchgebissen.
A marten bit through the coolant hose overnight.
The word 'Marder' is part of several nouns that refer to the problem with the animals. The most important are 'der Marderschaden' (marten damage), 'der Marderschutz' (a protective device against martens), and 'die Marderfalle' (marten trap).
Nach dem zweiten Schaden haben wir einen Marderschutz im Auto installiert.
After the second case of damage, we installed a marten deterrent in the car.
