furlough

¹fur·lough

noun \ˈfər-(ˌ)lō\

Definition of FURLOUGH

: a leave of absence from duty granted especially to a soldier; also : a document authorizing such a leave of absence

Examples of FURLOUGH

1. Each employee will have a one-day furlough every month.
2. <the landscaping company usually has to put most of its personnel on furlough during the extremely slow winter months>

Origin of FURLOUGH

Dutch verlof, literally, permission, from Middle Dutch, from ver- for- + lof permission; akin to Middle High German loube permission — more at for-, leave

First Known Use: 1625

Related to FURLOUGH

Synonyms

ax (or axe), discharge, dismissal, layoff, redundancy [chiefly British]

Related Words

pink slip; bird [chiefly British], boot, bum's rush, downsizing, firing, heave-ho, sack; closing, shutdown; shakeout, shake-up

Near Antonyms

callback, recall, reemployment, rehire, rehiring

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

²furlough

transitive verb

Definition of FURLOUGH

1

: to grant a furlough to

2

: to lay off from work

Examples of FURLOUGH

1. The company will consider furloughing a small number of workers.

First Known Use of FURLOUGH

1781

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical