The term 'WINTER WEASEL' is a combination of two words, 'WINTER' and 'WEASEL'. The first word, 'WINTER', refers to the season of the year that typically occurs between autumn and spring. The second word, 'WEASEL', is a type of small mammal belonging to the Mustelidae family. The crossword solution for this term is 'ERMINE', which is another name for the stoat, a species of WEASEL that is found in colder climates and has a white coat during the WINTER months.