ferret

1 of 3

noun (1)

fer·ret ˈfer-ət How to pronounce ferret (audio)

: a domesticated usually albino, brownish, or silver-gray animal (Mustela putorius furo) that is descended from the European polecat

: black-footed ferret

: an active and persistent searcher

ferrety

ˈfer-ə-tē

adjective

ferret

2 of 3

verb

ferreted; ferreting; ferrets

intransitive verb

: to hunt with ferrets

: to search about

transitive verb

a(1)

: to hunt (animals, such as rabbits) with ferrets

(2)

: to force out of hiding : flush

: to find and bring to light by searching

—usually used with out

ferret out the answers

: harry, worry

ferreter noun

ferret

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a narrow cotton, silk, or wool tape

called also ferreting

Did you know?

Ferret as a Verb

Since the 14th century, English speakers have used ferret as the name of a small domesticated animal of the weasel family. The word came to us by way of Anglo-French and can be traced back to Latin fur, meaning "thief." These days ferrets are often kept as pets, but previously they were used to hunt rabbits, rats, and other vermin, and to drive them from their underground burrows. By the 15th century, the verb ferret was being used of the action of hunting with ferrets. By the late 16th century, the verb had taken on figurative uses as well. Today, we most frequently encounter the verb ferret in the sense of "to find and bring to light by searching."

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English furet, ferret, from Anglo-French firet, furet, from Vulgar Latin *furittus, literally, little thief, diminutive of Latin fur thief — more at furtive

Noun (2)

probably modification of Italian fioretti floss silk, from plural of fioretto, diminutive of fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at blow

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1649, in the meaning defined above

单词	ferret
释义	ferret 1 of 3 noun (1) fer·ret ˈfer-ət 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 ˈfer-ə-tē adjective ferret 2 of 3 verb ferreted; ferreting; ferrets intransitive verb 1 : to hunt with ferrets 2 : to search about transitive verb 1 a(1) : to hunt (animals, such 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 ferret 3 of 3 noun (2) : a narrow cotton, silk, or wool tape called also ferreting Did you know? Ferret as a Verb Since the 14th century, English speakers have used ferret as the name of a small domesticated animal of the weasel family. The word came to us by way of Anglo-French and can be traced back to Latin fur, meaning "thief." These days ferrets are often kept as pets, but previously they were used to hunt rabbits, rats, and other vermin, and to drive them from their underground burrows. By the 15th century, the verb ferret was being used of the action of hunting with ferrets. By the late 16th century, the verb had taken on figurative uses as well. Today, we most frequently encounter the verb ferret in the sense of "to find and bring to light by searching." Synonyms Verb ascertain descry detect determine dig out dig up discover dredge (up) find find out get hit (on or upon) hunt (down or up) learn locate nose out root (out) rout (out) rummage run down scare up scout (up) track (down) turn up See all Synonyms & Antonyms Word History Etymology Noun (1) Middle English furet, ferret, from Anglo-French firet, furet, from Vulgar Latin furittus, literally, little thief, diminutive of Latin fur* thief — more at furtive Noun (2) probably modification of Italian fioretti floss silk, from plural of fioretto, diminutive of fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at blow First Known Use Noun (1) 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb 15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1 Noun (2) 1649, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing ferret black-footed ferret ferret out black-footed ferret ferret out Kids Definition ferret 1 of 2 noun fer·ret ˈfer-ət : a domesticated animal with usually white or light brown or gray fur that originates from the European polecat ferret 2 of 2 verb ferreted; ferreting : to find by eager searching Could you ferret out the answer? ferret verb as in to dog Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance dog hound hawk trap trail snare net capture course hunt drag track run down spoor chase stalk pursue kill harpoon run cull gun (for) shoot poach
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ferret

noun (1)

verb

noun (2)

Did you know?

Synonyms

Word History

Phrases Containing ferret

Kids Definition

noun

verb

verb