ferret

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noun fer·ret \ˈfer-ət\

Definition of ferret

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

ferrety

play \ˈfer-ə-tē\ adjective

ferret was our Word of the Day on 06/05/2010. Hear the podcast!

Origin and Etymology 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

ferret

verb fer·ret

Definition of ferret

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 : flushb : to find and bring to light by searching —usually used with out ferret out the answers
2 : harry, worry

ferreter

noun

See ferret defined for English-language learners

Did You Know?

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."

15th Century

First Known Use of ferret

15th century

ferret

noun fer·ret

Definition of ferret

: a narrow cotton, silk, or wool tape —called also ferreting

Origin and Etymology of ferret

probably modification of Italian fioretti floss silk, from plural of fioretto, diminutive of fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at blow

First Known Use: 1649

FERRET Defined for Kids

ferret

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noun fer·ret \ˈfer-ət\

Definition of ferret for Students

: a domesticated animal with usually white or light brown or gray fur that originates from the European polecat

History for ferret

The ferret is a domesticated breed of the European polecat. For centuries the ferret has been used in Europe for hunting rats and sometimes rabbits. But both the wild polecat and its domestic relative have a rather bad reputation as chicken thieves. Appropriately, then, the ferret is, according to the history of its name, a “little thief.” Medieval English ferret (or furet) is borrowed from French furet, which ultimately goes back to Latin fur, “thief.”