ferretn.1
/ˈfɛrᵻt/, U.S. /ˈfɛrət/ 1.
a. A half-tamed variety of the common polecat ( Putorius fœtidus), kept for the purpose of driving rabbits from their burrows, destroying rats, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Mustelidae (weasel, marten, otter, or badger) > [noun] > genus Mustela (weasel) > mustela furo (ferret)
ferreta1398
viverra1706
polecat-ferret1768
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. lxxv. 1228 The fyret hatte migale and is a litel beste as it were a wesil.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 171/2 Forette, or ferette, lytyll beste.
?a1500 Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.) I. 51 Heare are beares..squirelles, and firrette.
1581 W. Lambarde Eirenarcha (1588) iv. iv. 444 If any..Labourer have used firrets..to take or destroy Deere.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique vii. iii. 808 Good hunters will neuer put their ferret into any earth, whose mouth they see stopt.
1647 H. More Philos. Poems i. ii. lxxxv Strait Graculo with eyes as fierce as Ferrit Reply'd.
1766 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. i. 37 Warreners will sometimes permit a cross between this animal and the ferret.
1844 Penny Cycl. XXVII. 167/1 Ferrets should not be fed before they are taken to the warren.
1879 Encycl. Brit. IX. 109/1 The ferret is peculiarly intolerant of cold.
b. transferred and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > [noun] > person having
inquisitor?1504
ferret1629
curioso1658
inquisitive1690
numquid1833
pry1837
noser1860
the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > [noun] > searcher or seeker
seekerc1330
hunterc1374
searchera1382
explorator1583
questa1616
questanta1616
ferret1629
quester1629
perquisitor1656
questor1887
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > [noun] > person conducting
searchera1382
inseerc1438
intracer?a1475
inquisitor?1504
investigator1538
peruser1549
tracer1552
scrutineer1557
examinant1587
revisitor1594
examiner?1608
examinator1612
researcher1615
indagator1620
ferret1629
pryer1674
probator1691
disquisitor1766
grubber1776
prober1777
grubbler1813
detective1850
expiscator1882
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > astuteness > person
Yorker1599
ferret1629
Yorkshire bite1801
file1819
gnostic1819
shrewdc1858
shrewd-head1916
shrewdie1916
piss-cutter1935
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > investigation, inspection > secret observation, spying > procedures used in spying > [noun] > private detection > person engaged in
private detective1857
eye1874
Pinkerton1877
ferret1891
consultant1894
private investigator1894
Sherlock Holmes1896
operative1901
Sherlock1903
Sherlockian1903
Pink1904
peeper1908
private dick1912
op1924
shamus1925
private eye1938
PI1953
peep1974
1629 L. Owen Speculum Iesuiticum (new ed.) 66 These Ferrets (or if you will Iesuites).
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 39 Many of those that pretend to be great Rabbies in these studies..have bin but the Ferrets and Moushunts of an Index.
1856 G. H. Boker Poems (1857) II. 25 A cunning ferret after doubtful phrases.
1891 Daily News 19 June 7/3 He engaged him as a kind of ferret or detective.
1946 P. Brickhill & C. Norton Escape to Danger xv. 140 Night and day..German security guards patrolled and snooped... These guards were known by us as ‘ferrets’.
1960 Times 2 Dec. 17/2 A more recent approach starts from a device known as a ‘ferret’ which operates in the mains themselves. Its ordinary use is in cleaning out mains and it consists of an arrangement of water-propelled cleaning brushes.
2. slang.† c. A pawnbroker (Bailey 1736). Obsolete.
a. A dunning tradesman (see quot. 1699). ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > request > one who requests > [noun] > importunately > as a creditor, etc.
dun1628
dunner?c1654
ferret1699
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Ferret, a Tradesman that sells Goods to young Unthrifts, upon Trust at excessive Rates, and then continually duns them for the debt.
1725 in New Canting Dict.
b. (See quot. 1889.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > [noun] > coal from barges
ferret1889
1889 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland Dict. Slang Ferret, a young thief who gets into a coal barge and throws coal over the side to his confederates.
Categories »
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
a. Simple attributive.
ferret-eye n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > sense organ > sight organ > types of sight organ > [noun]
ferret-eye1590
squirrel eyes1600
hawk's eye1684
piercer1752
gimlet-eye1825
lynx-eye1828
bug-eyes1905
camera eye1908
night eye1934
1590 Sir P. Sidney Covntesse of Pembrokes Arcadia ii. xiv. f. 163 Having threatning..in her Ferret eies.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. ii. 187 Cicero Lookes with such Ferret and such fiery eyes . View more context for this quotation
1781 J. Bentham Wks. (1838–43) X. 104 A hook nose and ferret eyes.
1837 F. Marryat Snarleyyow III. iii. 36 Vanslyperken, whose..small ferret-eyes, and downcast look, were certainly not in his favour.
1915 R. C. Thompson Pilgrim's Scrip 57 Presently the little pithecoid Abdullah turned red, ferret eyes upon the arrack which none else had touched.
b. Parasynthetic and similative.
ferret-eyed adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [adjective] > types of eyes by colour > having
grey-eyed1534
green-eyed1553
blue-eyed1572
black-eyed1576
yellow-eyed1593
white-eyed1607
red-eyed?1609
ferret-eyed1699
golden-eyed1763
light-eyeda1795
pink-eyed1830
brown-eyed1865
sloe-eyed1869
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Ferret~eyed: or Eyes as red as a Ferret.
1811 M. R. Mitford Let. 30 Aug. in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) I. v. 156 They are really ferret-eyed this morning.
a1849 E. Elliott More Verse & Prose (1850) I. 18 Cried To prayerless Want, his plunderer ferret-eyed.
ferret-faced adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > types of face > [adjective]
flatc1400
hardc1400
low-cheeredc1400
large?a1425
ruscledc1440
well-visagedc1440
platter-faced1533
well-faced1534
full-faced1543
fair-faced1553
bright-faceda1560
crab-faced1563
crab-snouted1563
crab-tree-faced1563
long-visaged1584
owlya1586
wainscot-faced1588
flaberkin1592
rough-hewn1593
angel-faced1594
round-faced1594
crab-favoured1596
rugged1596
weasel-faced1596
rough-faced1598
half-faced1600
chitty1601
lenten-faced1604
broad-faced1607
dog-faced1607
weaselled-faced1607
wry-faced1607
maid-faced1610
warp-faced1611
ill-faceda1616
lean-faceda1616
old-faceda1616
moon-faced1619
monkey-faced1620
chitty-face1622
chitty-faceda1627
lean-chapt1629
antic-faced1635
bloat-faced1638
bacon-facea1640
blue-faced1640
hatchet-faced1648
grave1650
lean-jawed1679
smock-faced1684
lean-visaged1686
flaber1687
baby-faced1692
splatter-faced1707
chubby1722
puggy1722
block-faced1751
haggard-looking1756
long-faced1762
haggardly1763
fresh-faced1766
dough-faced1773
pudding-faced1777
baby-featured1780
fat-faced1782
haggard1787
weazen-face1794
keen1798
ferret-like1801
lean-cheeked1812
mulberry-faced1812
open-faced1813
open-countenanced1819
chiselled1821
hatchety1821
misfeatured1822
terse1824
weazen-faced1824
mahogany-faced1825
clock-faced1827
sharp1832
sensual1833
beef-faced1838
weaselly1838
ferret-faced1840
sensuous1843
rat-faced1844
recedent1849
neat-faced1850
cherubimical1854
pinch-faced1859
cherubic1860
frownya1861
receding1866
weak1882
misfeaturing1885
platopic1885
platyopic1885
pro-opic1885
wind-splitting1890
falcon-face1891
blunt-featured1916
bun-faced1927
fish-faced1963
1840 R. H. Barham Spectre of Tappington in Ingoldsby Legends 1st Ser. 11 A little ferret-faced woman.
ferret-like adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > types of face > [adjective]
flatc1400
hardc1400
low-cheeredc1400
large?a1425
ruscledc1440
well-visagedc1440
platter-faced1533
well-faced1534
full-faced1543
fair-faced1553
bright-faceda1560
crab-faced1563
crab-snouted1563
crab-tree-faced1563
long-visaged1584
owlya1586
wainscot-faced1588
flaberkin1592
rough-hewn1593
angel-faced1594
round-faced1594
crab-favoured1596
rugged1596
weasel-faced1596
rough-faced1598
half-faced1600
chitty1601
lenten-faced1604
broad-faced1607
dog-faced1607
weaselled-faced1607
wry-faced1607
maid-faced1610
warp-faced1611
ill-faceda1616
lean-faceda1616
old-faceda1616
moon-faced1619
monkey-faced1620
chitty-face1622
chitty-faceda1627
lean-chapt1629
antic-faced1635
bloat-faced1638
bacon-facea1640
blue-faced1640
hatchet-faced1648
grave1650
lean-jawed1679
smock-faced1684
lean-visaged1686
flaber1687
baby-faced1692
splatter-faced1707
chubby1722
puggy1722
block-faced1751
haggard-looking1756
long-faced1762
haggardly1763
fresh-faced1766
dough-faced1773
pudding-faced1777
baby-featured1780
fat-faced1782
haggard1787
weazen-face1794
keen1798
ferret-like1801
lean-cheeked1812
mulberry-faced1812
open-faced1813
open-countenanced1819
chiselled1821
hatchety1821
misfeatured1822
terse1824
weazen-faced1824
mahogany-faced1825
clock-faced1827
sharp1832
sensual1833
beef-faced1838
weaselly1838
ferret-faced1840
sensuous1843
rat-faced1844
recedent1849
neat-faced1850
cherubimical1854
pinch-faced1859
cherubic1860
frownya1861
receding1866
weak1882
misfeaturing1885
platopic1885
platyopic1885
pro-opic1885
wind-splitting1890
falcon-face1891
blunt-featured1916
bun-faced1927
fish-faced1963
1801 Monthly Mirror June 421 The contour of the face is what is called ferret-like.
1843 G. P. R. James Forest Days I. ii. 10 A shrewd merry, ferret-like face.
C2. † ferret-claw v. figurative Obsolete to scratch, claw like a ferret; to strip bare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > rubbing or friction > rub [verb (transitive)] > scratch
clawc1000
scrat1340
frushc1430
scrapec1440
scartc1480
scrab1481
heckle?1507
mouse1531
bescratch1555
razea1586
ferret-claw1591
scrub1596
beclaw1603
bescramble1605
rake1609
shrub1657
talon1685
1591 R. Greene Notable Discouery of Coosenage f. 2 So ferret-claw him at cards, that they leaue him as bare of money, as an ape of a taile.
a1625 J. Fletcher Women Pleas'd iii. iv, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Eeeeee2v/1 Your rogue to, has light leggs else: I had so Ferret-claw'd him.
ferret-eye n. ‘the spur-winged goose, so called from the red circle around the eyes’ (Webster 1890).
Draft additions March 2014
slang. The penis.Chiefly in figurative contexts and as part of an extended metaphor.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > sex organs > male sex organs > [noun] > penis
weapona1000
tarsec1000
pintleOE
cock?c1335
pillicock?c1335
yard1379
arrowa1382
looma1400
vergea1400
instrumentc1405
fidcocka1475
privya1500
virile member (or yard)?1541
prickc1555
tool1563
pillock1568
penis1578
codpiece1584
needle1592
bauble1593
dildo1597
nag1598
virility1598
ferret1599
rubigo?a1600
Jack1604
mentula1605
virge1608
prependent1610
flute1611
other thing1628
engine1634
manhood1640
cod1650
quillity1653
rammer1653
runnion1655
pego1663
sex1664
propagator1670
membrum virile1672
nervea1680
whore-pipe1684
Roger1689
pudding1693
handle?1731
machine1749
shaft1772
jock1790
poker1811
dickyc1815
Johnny?1833
organ1833
intromittent apparatus1836
root1846
Johnson1863
Peter1870
John Henry1874
dickc1890
dingusc1890
John Thomasc1890
old fellowc1890
Aaron's rod1891
dingle-dangle1893
middle leg1896
mole1896
pisser1896
micky1898
baby-maker1902
old man1902
pecker1902
pizzle1902
willy1905
ding-dong1906
mickey1909
pencil1916
dingbatc1920
plonkerc1920
Johna1922
whangera1922
knob1922
tube1922
ding1926
pee-pee1927
prong1927
pud1927
hose1928
whang1928
dong1930
putz1934
porkc1935
wiener1935
weenie1939
length1949
tadger1949
winkle1951
dinger1953
winky1954
dork1961
virilia1962
rig1964
wee-wee1964
Percy1965
meat tool1966
chopper1967
schlong1967
swipe1967
chode1968
trouser snake1968
ding-a-ling1969
dipstick1970
tonk1970
noonies1972
salami1977
monkey1978
langer1983
wanker1987
1599 H. Porter Pleasant Hist. Two Angrie Women of Abington sig. H3 They put ferrets in the holes, fie, fie, And they go vp and downe where conneies lie.
1615 R. Brathwait Strappado 155 Till then adew: for till that time I sweare it, Thy Connie-burrow is not for my Ferret.
?1661 W. N. et al. Merry Drollery: 1st Pt. 52 My Mistris is a Conny fine, She's of the softest skin, And if you please to open her, The best part lies within, And in her Conny-burrow may Two Tumblers and a Ferret play.
1714 in H. Playford Wit & Mirth V. 68 The Ferret he goes in, through flaggs thick and thin..; The Cunny she shows play and..Like a Cat she does spit in his face.
1947 D. M. Davin For Rest of Lives xxxviii. 194 You look seedy. Been walking your ferret too often, I expect.
1985 B. Humphries Traveller's Tool vii. 65 You stand a good chance of getting the ferret through the furry hoop.
2002 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 16 Dec. 3 Prague Piss-up's website trumpets: ‘An all-nighter costs less than five quid..a night exercising the ferret costs 30 quid!’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
ferretn.2
/ˈfɛrᵻt/, U.S. /ˈfɛrət/ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > treated or processed textiles > [noun] > silk > floss or carded silk
filoselle1561
ferret-silk1576
floret-silk1582
floss silk1760
floreting1775
1576 G. Gascoigne Steele Glas sig. H.iiii When perchmentiers [i.e. makers of trimmings, Fr. passementiers], put in no ferret Silke.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Fioretti..a kind of course silke called foret or ferret silke.
1612 Bk. Customs & Valuation in A. Halyburton Ledger (1867) 326 Filosell or ferrett silk the pound viii li.
2. A stout tape most commonly made of cotton, but also of silk; then known as Italian ferret. green-ferret, figurative of officialism (cf. red tape n.). Also attributive, as ferret-ribbon, ferret-ribboning.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from choice of fibres > [noun] > cotton or silk > tape
ferret1649
ferreting1670
ferrateen1821
society > authority > office > [noun] > officialism or bureaucracy
red tape1736
bureaucracy1815
bureauism1829
red-tapery1831
red-tapism1834
officiality1841
functionarism1842
officialism1849
red-tapedom1850
red tapeworm1851
tapism1852
green-ferret1853
officialty1853
paperasserie1856
paperchase1856
paper-chasing1876
departmentalism1886
Whitehallism1915
striped trousers1958
1649 Gild Law in E. Mackenzie Descr. & Hist. Acct. Newcastle (1827) II. 666 (note) They shall wear no show strings better than ferret..ribbin.
1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love iv. 70 There's your ferret Ribbaning for garters.
1697 London Gaz. No. 3331/4 Leather Breeches, tied at the Knees with green Ferrit.
1715 London Gaz. No. 5327/2 The working of Galloons, Ribbons, Ferret, &c. by Mills.
1783 W. F. Martyn Geogr. Mag. 2 268 The inhabitants [of Amiens] carry on a manufacture of ferrets.
1812 H. Smith & J. Smith Rejected Addr. 36 Red wax and green ferret Are fix'd at the foot of the deeds!
1826 M. R. Mitford Our Village II. 195 The bobbin, the ferret, shirt-buttons, shoe-strings?
a1839 C. L. H. Papendiek Court & Private Life Time Queen Charlotte (1887) II. xxi. 257 The venetian blinds I had new strung at home with silk ferret.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House x. 89 Mr. Snagsby has dealt in..red tape, and green ferret.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† ferretn.3
rare. Glass-making.
See quot.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > glass-making equipment > [noun] > shaping equipment
ferret1662
punty1662
puntilion1665
pucellas1701
casting-table1728
marble1745
pinching tongs1765
borsella1823
punt1823
marver1832
pontil1832
punto1839
working tube1841
bullion-bar1852
blowing-iron1855
bullion-rod1862
blowpipec1865
pointel1865
gadget1868
casting-slaba1877
casting-plate1881
glass-cutter1881
sand core1894
polissoir1897
pontil rod1934
blowing-machine1940
blowing-pipe-
blowing-tube-
1662 C. Merrett tr. A. Neri Art of Glass 364 Ferrets are the Irons wherewith they try whether the Metall be fit to work, as also those Irons which make the Ring at the mouth of Glass Bottles.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Hence in mod. Dicts.
1875 in E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
ferretv.
/ˈfɛrᵻt/, U.S. /ˈfɛrət/ 1.
a. intransitive. To hunt with ferrets.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting specific animals > hunt specific animal [verb (intransitive)] > hunt rabbits > with ferrets
ferretc1450
c1450 J. Lydgate in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866) 26 With hem that fyrretyth robbe conyngherthys.
1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie lxiv. 180 I accoumpte ferrettyng one of the coldest..chaces that can be followed.
1673 W. F. News from Channel sig. A3v Whether we commonly go a Ferreting.
1879 R. Jefferies Wild Life 136 The guns are laid aside, though some ferreting is still going on.
b. transitive. To hunt over (ground) with a ferret; to clear out by means of a ferret.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting specific animals > [verb (transitive)] > hunt rabbits > with ferrets
ferreta1483
a1483 Liber Niger in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 66 To geve any servaunts occasion to furett..any mannys warreynes.
1879 R. Jefferies Wild Life 214 Even if the burrows be ferreted, in a few weeks this great hole shows signs of fresh inhabitants.
1879 R. Jefferies Wild Life 248 In ferreting this place.
2. transitive. To take (rabbits, etc.) with ferrets. Also, to drive forth by means of a ferret.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting specific animals > [verb (transitive)] > hunt rabbits > with ferrets > drive out with ferret
ferret1579
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting specific animals > [verb (transitive)] > hunt rabbits > with ferrets > take with ferret
ferret1579
1579 S. Gosson Schoole of Abuse f. 18 These prettie rabbets verye cunningly ferretted from their borrowes.
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. 893/2 Some fell to drinking, some to feretting of other mens conies.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Ferreted, hunted as Conies.
1735 J. Swift Full & True Acct. Execution W. Wood in Wks. IV. 244 Rabbet-Catcher. I'll Ferret him.
1884 York Herald 26 Aug. 6/2 The tenants..have permission to ferret and dig rabbits.
3. Of actions resembling a ferret's.
a. To hunt after; to worry. Also with about.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > harass [verb (transitive)]
tawc893
ermec897
swencheOE
besetOE
bestandc1000
teenOE
baitc1175
grieve?c1225
war?c1225
noyc1300
pursuec1300
travailc1300
to work (also do) annoyc1300
tribula1325
worka1325
to hold wakenc1330
chase1340
twistc1374
wrap1380
cumbera1400
harrya1400
vexc1410
encumber1413
inquiet1413
molest?a1425
course1466
persecutec1475
trouble1489
sturt1513
hare1523
hag1525
hale1530
exercise1531
to grate on or upon1532
to hold or keep waking1533
infest1533
scourge1540
molestate1543
pinch1548
trounce1551
to shake upa1556
tire1558
moila1560
pester1566
importune1578
hunt1583
moider1587
bebait1589
commacerate1596
bepester1600
ferret1600
harsell1603
hurry1611
gall1614
betoil1622
weary1633
tribulatea1637
harass1656
dun1659
overharry1665
worry1671
haul1678
to plague the life out of1746
badger1782
hatchel1800
worry1811
bedevil1823
devil1823
victimize1830
frab1848
mither1848
to pester the life out of1848
haik1855
beplague1870
chevy1872
obsede1876
to get on ——1880
to load up with1880
tail-twist1898
hassle1901
heckle1920
snooter1923
hassle1945
to breathe down (the back of) (someone's) neck1946
to bust (a person's) chops1953
noodge1960
monster1967
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > following behind > follow [verb (transitive)] > pursue > harassingly
suea1350
squirrel1589
ferret1600
hound1605
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V iv. iv. 27 Ile Fer him, and ferit him, and ferke him.
1605 Old King Leir in Nichols Six Old Plays (1779) 461 I'll ferret you ere night for that word.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. iii. 181 And..vow'd He'd ferret him, lurk where he wou'd.
1713 R. Steele in Guardian 12 Aug. 1/2 She does so Ferrit them about..that they..give her immediate Warning.
1800 C. Lamb Let. 17 Mar. in Lett. C. & M. A. Lamb (1975) I. 189 He ferrets me day and night to do something.
b. To drive from, off, out of (a place). Also, to ferret about, ferret away, ferret forth, ferret out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away
feezec890
adriveeOE
aflemeeOE
off-driveeOE
flemeOE
withdrivec1000
adreveOE
to drive outOE
biwevea1300
chasec1300
void13..
catcha1325
firk1340
enchasec1380
huntc1385
to catch awayc1390
forcatch1393
to put offa1398
to cast awaya1400
to put outc1400
repel?a1439
exterminate1541
chasten1548
propulse1548
keir1562
hie1563
depulse1570
band1580
bandy1591
flit1595
ferret1601
profugate1603
extermine1634
1601 J. Deacon & J. Walker Dialogicall Disc. Spirits & Diuels 287 You are almost quite ferreted foorth from all your starting holes.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 225 With Terriour dogges they ferret him out of his den againe.
1658 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 2nd Pt. 529 Speak..did the Lord ever ferret thee out of this burrow?
1675 W. Wycherley Country-wife iv. 68 I'll ferret her out to you presently.
a1679 Earl of Orrery Guzman (1693) 111 I'll ferret him away.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses II. 124 Dr. Laud..sifted and ferreted him about from one hole to another.
1727 A. Hamilton New Acct. E. Indies I. viii. 86 They..took Counsel to ferret them off their Island.
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller II. 241 Measures were accordingly taken..to ferret this vermin brood out of the colonies.
c. intransitive. To rummage, search about; †to be restless, worry; also, to ferret up and down.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > make a search [verb (intransitive)] > rummage or search thoroughly
ransackc1405
range1553
rig1565
rake1574
mouse1575
ferret1580
spoacha1585
rummage1625
scrimmage1843
fossick1871
roust1919
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > worry > be worried [verb (intransitive)]
to annoy of?c1400
fret1551
moil1567
ferret1807
worrit1854
worry1860
whittle1880
fidget1884
agonize1915
to worry (oneself), be worried, sick1952
to stress out1983
stress1988
1580 T. North tr. Plutarch Lives (1676) 963 Souldiers, who went ferriting up and down in his House.
1624 J. Gee Foot out of Snare 52 Making him [a diuell] ferret vp and downe, from tongue to toe.
1693 T. Southerne Maids Last Prayer ii. ii You must be..ferreting in my Borough.
1789 A. Young Jrnl. 5 Oct. in Trav. France (1792) i. 201 Ferret among the booksellers, and find more tracts..upon agriculture than I expected.
1807 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life II. xx. 270 How would these conjurors ferret and sweat, To see us pair off.
1891 E. Gosse Gossip in Library xii. 150 He has to ferret among the pawnbrokers for scraps of finery.
d. transitive. To search (a place); also, to question (a person) searchingly. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > question, interrogate [verb (transitive)]
afraynec1380
speera1400
refraynea1450
searcha1450
questiona1470
interrogate1483
interrogue1484
demanda1513
pose1526
ferret1582
shrive1592
samen?1620
query1653
quiza1843
hackle1891
rag1908
the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > search for or seek [verb (transitive)] > search (a place)
seekc1230
searcha1382
lay1560
ferret1582
sift1611
inquire?1615
hunt1712
screenge1825
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis i. 9 Æneas..vpgot, too ferret al vncooth Nouks of strang country.
1606 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 46 Ferret all Corners of this neather Ball.
1647 G. Wharton Wks. (1683) 277 I have proposed..to ferret the poor Quack in point of Art.
e. To burrow (a passage). rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > earth-moving, etc. > [verb (transitive)] > make tunnel
mine1555
ferret1582
hole1708
tunnel1865
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 64 Alpheüs..this passadge ferreted.
4. to ferret out, ferret up: To search out, discover, bring to light.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > finding or discovery > find or discover [verb (transitive)] > by searching or tracking down > and bring to light
to search outc1425
to hunt out1576
unrip?1576
to ferret out1577
to fetch up1608
fish1632
prog1655
rummage1797
rout1814
exhume1819
excavate1840
ferret up1847
unearth1863
fossick?1870
exhumate1881
1577 R. Stanyhurst Treat. Descr. Irelande vi. f. 21v/2, in R. Holinshed Chron. I He were able to ferret out such barebrich brattes.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 122 b Let us now fyrritte out the other, and see what vermine it is.
a1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) v. iv. 82 Let's in and ferret out these cheating Rakehels.
1775 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) XII. 324 Rather ferret them out, and drag them into open day.
1847 A. Smith Christopher Tadpole (1848) xxxix. 330 She had been out in the village, and ferretted up all the guides.
1853 C. Dickens Bleak House ix. 88 I have ferreted out evidence, got up cases.
5. slang. To cheat.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > treat fraudulently, cheat [verb (transitive)]
deceivec1330
defraud1362
falsec1374
abuse?a1439
fraud1563
visure1570
cozen1583
coney-catch1592
to fetch in1592
cheat1597
sell1607
mountebanka1616
dabc1616
nigglea1625
to put it on1625
shuffle1627
cuckold1644
to put a cheat on1649
tonya1652
fourbe1654
imposturea1659
impose1662
slur1664
knap1665
to pass upon (also on)1673
snub1694
ferret1699
nab1706
shool1745
humbug1750
gag1777
gudgeon1787
kid1811
bronze1817
honeyfuggle1829
Yankee1837
middle1863
fuck1866
fake1867
skunk1867
dead-beat1888
gold-brick1893
slicker1897
screw1900
to play it1901
to do in1906
game1907
gaff1934
scalp1939
sucker1939
sheg1943
swizz1961
butt-fuck1979
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Ferreted, cheated.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.31662v.c1450