Main Entry:

¹fer·ret

Pronunciation:

\ˈfer-ət\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

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

Date:

14th century

1 a: a domesticated usually albino, brownish, or silver-gray animal (Mustela putorius furo) that is descended from the European polecat b: black-footed ferret2: an active and persistent searcher

— fer·rety \-ə-tē\ adjective