ferret

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: fer=ret

CIDE DICTIONARY

ferret, n. [F. furet, cf. LL. furo; prob. fr. L. fur thief (cf. Furtive); cf. Arm. fur wise, sly.].

 An animal of the Weasel family (Mustela furo syn. Putorius furo), about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white color, with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been domesticated in Europe. Ferrets are used to drive rabbits and rats out of their holes. They are sometimes kept as pets.  [1913 Webster]

ferret, v. t. [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, to ferret out a secret.  [1913 Webster]
"Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him."  [1913 Webster]

ferret, 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]

ferret, n. [F. feret, dim. or fer iron, L. ferrum.].

 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]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ferret, n. & v.
--n.
1 a small half-domesticated polecat, Mustela putorius furo, used in catching rabbits, rats, etc.
2 a person who searches assiduously.
--v.
1 intr. hunt with ferrets.
2 intr. rummage; search about.
3 tr. (often foll. by about, away, out, etc.) a clear out (holes or an area of ground) with ferrets. b take or drive away (rabbits etc.) with ferrets.
4 tr. (foll. by out) search out (secrets, criminals, etc.).

Derivative

ferreter n. ferrety adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF fu(i)ret alt. f. fu(i)ron f. LL furo -onis f. L fur thief

THESAURUS

ferret

Argus, Cape polecat, ape, bar, bear, cat, cavy, chimp, chimpanzee, coon, eagle, foumart, glutton, groundhog, guinea pig, hawk, hedgehog, lynx, monk, monkey, mousehound, opossum, polecat, porcupine, possum, prairie dog, quill pig, raccoon, skunk, weasel, whistle-pig, wolverine, woodchuck, zoril