Ferret

//ˈfɛɹɪt// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An often domesticated mammal (Mustela putorius furo) rather like a weasel, descended from the polecat and often trained to hunt burrowing animals.
  2. 2
    A tape of silk, cotton, or ribbon, used to tie documents, clothing, etc. or along the edge of fabric. dated

    "red tape and green ferret"

  3. 3
    domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for hunting rats and rabbits wordnet
  4. 4
    A black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes).
  5. 5
    musteline mammal of prairie regions of United States; nearly extinct wordnet
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    A diligent searcher. figuratively

    "The most challenging documentary discoveries were made by a tenacious archival ferret, Dr Antonio Bertoletti. In 1879 he published his findings in a slim, refreshingly dry volume, Francesco Cenci e la sua Famiglia."

Verb
  1. 1
    To hunt game with ferrets.
  2. 2
    search and discover through persistent investigation wordnet
  3. 3
    To uncover and bring to light by searching; usually to ferret out. ambitransitive, broadly

    "Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him."

  4. 4
    hunt with ferrets wordnet
  5. 5
    hound or harry relentlessly wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English furet, ferret, from Old French furet, from Vulgar Latin *furittum (“weasel, ferret”), diminutive of Latin fūr (“thief”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English furet, ferret, from Old French furet, from Vulgar Latin *furittum (“weasel, ferret”), diminutive of Latin fūr (“thief”).

Etymology 3

From Italian fioretto.

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