ferret

fer·ret | \ ˈfer-ət

Definition of ferret

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : 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

ferret

verb

ferreted; ferreting; ferrets

Definition of ferret (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

1 : to hunt with ferrets

2 : to search about

transitive verb

1a(1) : to hunt (animals, such as rabbits) with ferrets

(2) : to force out of hiding : flush

b : to find and bring to light by searching —usually used with outferret out the answers

2 : harry, worry

ferret

noun (2)

Definition of ferret (Entry 3 of 3)

: a narrow cotton, silk, or wool tape

— called also ferreting

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Ferret as a Verb

Verb

Since the 14th century, English speakers have used "ferret" as the name of a small domesticated animal of the weasel family. The word came to us by way of Anglo-French and can be traced back to Latin fur, meaning "thief." These days ferrets are often kept as pets, but prior to that they were typically used to hunt rabbits, rats, and other vermin, and to drive them from their underground burrows. By the 15th century, the verb "ferret" was being used of the action of hunting with ferrets. By the late 16th century, the verb had taken on figurative uses as well. Today, we most frequently encounter the verb "ferret" in the sense of "to find and bring to light by searching."