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
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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
ferret
Definition of ferret
ferreter
nounDid 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
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
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.”
Definition of ferret for Students
ferreted
;ferreting
: to find by eager searching Could you ferret out the answer?
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See words that rhyme with ferret Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ferret Spanish Central: Translation of ferret Nglish: Translation of ferret for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ferret for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ferret
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