ferret
1
[ fer-it ]
/ ˈfɛr ɪt /
noun
a domesticated, usually red-eyed, and albinic variety of the polecat, used in Europe for driving rabbits and rats from their burrows.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to search about.
Origin of ferret
1
1350–1400; Middle English
fer(r)et(te),
fyret, furet < Middle French
furet < Vulgar Latin
*furittus, equivalent to
fūr thief (< Latin) +
-ittus
-et
OTHER WORDS FROM ferret
fer·ret·er, noun fer·ret·y, adjective un·fer·ret·ed, adjective un·fer·ret·ing, adjectiveWords nearby ferret
ferredoxin,
ferrein's pyramid,
ferrel's law,
ferreous,
ferrero,
ferret,
ferret badger,
ferret out,
ferri-,
ferriage,
ferric
British Dictionary definitions for ferret out (1 of 2)
ferret
1
/ (ˈfɛrɪt) /
noun
a domesticated albino variety of the polecat Mustela putorius, bred for hunting rats, rabbits, etc
an assiduous searcher
black-footed ferret
a musteline mammal, Mustela nigripes, of W North America, closely related to the weasels
verb -rets, -reting or -reted
Derived forms of ferret
ferreter, noun ferrety, adjectiveWord Origin for ferret
C14: from Old French
furet, from Latin
fur thief
British Dictionary definitions for ferret out (2 of 2)
ferret
2
ferreting
/ (ˈfɛrɪt) /
noun
silk binding tape
Word Origin for ferret
C16: from Italian
fioretti floss silk, plural of
fioretto : a little flower, from
fiore flower, from Latin
flōs
Idioms and Phrases with ferret out
ferret out
Uncover and bring to light by searching, as in Sandy was a superb reporter, tireless in ferreting out whatever facts were needed for her story. This expression alludes to hunting with ferrets, weasel-like animals formerly used to drive rabbits out of their burrows. [c. 1600]