ferret

noun fer·ret \ ˈfer-ət \

Definition of ferret

1 a : 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

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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

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

ferret

verb

Definition of ferret

ferreted; ferreting; ferrets

intransitive verb

1 : to hunt with ferrets

2 : to search about

transitive verb

1 a (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 out

ferret out the answers

2 : harry, worry

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ferreter

noun

See ferret defined for English-language learners

ferret as a 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."

First Known Use of ferret

15th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

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ferret

noun

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

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First Known Use: 1649

in the meaning defined above

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FERRET Defined for Kids

ferret

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.”