ferret
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Middle English furet, ferret, from Anglo-Norman firet, furet, diminutive of Old French fuiron (“weasel, ferret”), from Late Latin furo (“cat; robber”), diminutive of Latin fur (“thief”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
ferret (plural ferrets)
- A mammal rather like a weasel, but which was originally bred from the polecat and often trained to hunt rats or rabbits in England.
[edit] Scientific names
[edit] Translations
the mammal Mustela putorius furo
[edit] Verb
ferret (third-person singular simple present ferrets, present participle ferreting, simple past and past participle ferreted)
- To hunt game with ferrets.
- To uncover and bring to light by searching; usually to ferret out.
- 1922, Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room Chapter 1
- She ferreted in her bag; then held it up mouth downwards; then fumbled in her lap, all so vigorously that Charles Steele in the Panama hat suspended his paint-brush.
- 1922, Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room Chapter 1
[edit] Latin
[edit] Verb
ferret
- third-person singular imperfect active subjunctive of ferō
