ferret

ferret
I. noun Etymology: Middle English furet, ferret, from Anglo-French firet, furet, from Vulgar Latin *furittus, literally, little thief, diminutive of Latin fur thief — more at furtive Date: 14th century 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 • ferrety adjective II. verb Date: 15th century intransitive verb 1. to hunt with ferrets 2. to search about transitive verb 1. a. (1) to hunt (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 • ferreter noun III. noun Etymology: probably modification of Italian fioretti floss silk, from plural of fioretto, diminutive of fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at blow Date: 1649 a narrow cotton, silk, or wool tape — called also ferreting

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Ferret — hat verschiedene Bedeutungen: ein Familienname Baro Ferret (1908–1978), französischer Musiker Jacques Ferret (1901–1992), französischer Philologe Matelo Ferret (1918–1889), französischer Musiker Sarane Ferret (1912–1970), französischer Musiker… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • ferret — [ ferɛ ] n. m. • XIVe; de fer I ♦ Bout métallique qui termine un lacet, une aiguillette. Par ext. Des ferrets de diamants, ornés de diamants. L anecdote des ferrets de la reine (dans « Les Trois Mousquetaires » d Alexandre Dumas). II ♦ Minér.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Ferret — Fer ret, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ferreted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ferreting}.] [Cf. F. fureter. See {Ferret}, n.] To drive or hunt out of a lurking place, as a ferret does the cony; to search out by patient and sagacious efforts; often used with out; as …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ferret — Ferret. s. m. Diminutif. Fer d aiguillette. Un ferret d aiguillette. On dit prov. d Une chose de peu de valeur, & dont on ne fait nul cas, qu On ne voudroit pas en donner un ferret d aiguillette …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • ferret — ferret1 [fer′ət] n. [< It fioretti, floss silk, orig. pl. of fioretto, dim. of fiore, a flower < L flos, FLOWER] a narrow ribbon of cotton, wool, silk, etc.: also ferreting ferret2 [fer′ət] n. [ME feret < OFr furet < LL furetus, dim.… …   English World dictionary

  • ferret — I verb bring to light, dig out, discover, disinter, elicit, find, fish out, hunt, look for, rimari, root out, search, seek, trace, track down, unearth associated concepts: ferret out a crime II index hunt, search …   Law dictionary

  • ferret — (n.) late 14c., from O.Fr. furet, dim. of fuiron weasel, ferret, lit. thief, probably from L.L. furionem (related to furonem cat, also robber ), from L. fur (gen. furis) thief. The verb (early 15c.) refers to the use of half tame ferrets to kill… …   Etymology dictionary

  • ferret — ► NOUN 1) a domesticated albino or brown polecat, used for catching rabbits. 2) informal a search. ► VERB (ferreted, ferreting) 1) hunt with ferrets. 2) search for something in a place or container. 3) …   English terms dictionary

  • Ferret — Fer ret, n. [F. furet, cf. LL. furo; prob. fr. L. fur thief (cf. {Furtive}); cf. Arm. fur wise, sly.] (Zo[ o]l.) An animal of the Weasel family ({Mustela furo} syn. {Putorius furo}), about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ferret — Fer ret, n. [Ital. foretto, dim. of fiore flower; or F. fleuret. Cf. {Floret}.] A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; called also {ferreting}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ferret — Fer ret, n. [F. feret, dim. or fer iron, L. ferrum.] (Glass Making) The iron used for trying the melted glass to see if is fit to work, and for shaping the rings at the mouths of bottles. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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