furball

English

Etymology

fur +‎ ball

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

furball (plural furballs)

1. A ball of fur, especially one coughed up by a cat.

   Synonym: hairball

2. (humorous, informal) A particularly furry person or animal.
3. (military, aviation, nautical, slang) A large, disorganized battle involving many different aircraft (especially fighters) or warships.
   • 2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 22:21 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN)‎^[1], archived from the original on 7 November 2022:

     […] But, as with the furball that had broken out around San Francisco, things escalated once again, as Teruzuki rolled better on her perception check, ambushing Sterett and blowing enough holes in her to force the U.S. destroyer to withdraw.

Translations

coughed-up ball of fur — see hairball

furry person or animal

• French: boule de poils (fr) f

large, disorganized battle

See also

• dogfight

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