ferret

¹fer·ret

noun \ˈfer-ət\

Definition of FERRET

1

a : a domesticated usually albino, brownish, or silver-gray animal (Mustela putorius furo) that is descended from the European polecat b : black-footed ferret

2

: an active and persistent searcher

— fer·rety \-ə-tē\ adjective

Origin of FERRET

Middle English furet, ferret, from Anglo-French firet, furet, from Vulgar Latin *furittus, literally, little thief, diminutive of Latin fur thief — more at furtive

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

Rhymes with FERRET

merit, terret