furlough

[ fur-loh ]
/ ˈfɜr loʊ /

noun

Military. a vacation or leave of absence granted to an enlisted person.
a usually temporary layoff from work: Many plant workers have been forced to go on furlough.
a temporary leave of absence authorized for a prisoner from a penitentiary.

verb (used with object)

to grant a furlough to.
to lay (an employee or worker) off from work, usually temporarily.

Origin of furlough

1615–25; variant of earlier furlogh, furloff < Dutch verlof leave, permission; current pronunciation by association with dough, etc.

OTHER WORDS FROM furlough

pre·fur·lough, noun

Words nearby furlough

Example sentences from the Web for furlough

British Dictionary definitions for furlough

furlough
/ (ˈfɜːləʊ) /

noun

leave of absence from military duty
US a temporary laying-off of employees, usually because there is insufficient work to occupy them

verb (tr)

to grant a furlough to
US to lay off (staff) temporarily

Word Origin for furlough

C17: from Dutch verlof, from ver- for- + lof leave, permission; related to Swedish förlof