Nearby Words

Ferrets

[fer-it] Origin

fer·ret

1[fer-it]
noun
1.
a domesticated, usually red-eyed, and albinic variety of the polecat, used in Europe for driving rabbits and rats from their burrows.
verb (used with object)
3.
to drive out by using or as if using a ferret (often followed by out): to ferret rabbits from their burrows; to ferret out enemies.
4.
to hunt with ferrets.
5.
to hunt over with ferrets: to ferret a field.
6.
to search out, discover, or bring to light (often followed by out): to ferret out the facts.
7.
to harry, worry, or torment: His problems ferreted him day and night.

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Ferrets is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
verb (used without object)
8.
to search about.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English fer(r)et(te), fyret, furet < Middle French furet < Vulgar Latin *furittus, equivalent to fūr thief (< Latin ) + -ittus -et

fer·ret·er, noun
fer·ret·y, adjective
un·fer·ret·ed, adjective
un·fer·ret·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged

fer·ret

2[fer-it]
noun
a narrow tape or ribbon, as of silk or cotton, used for binding, trimming, etc.

Origin:
1570–80; alteration of Italian fioretto floss silk, literally, little flower, equivalent to fior(e) (< Latin flōrem; see flower) + -etto -et
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

ferret
late 14c., from O.Fr. fuiret, dim. of fuiron "weasel, ferret," lit. "thief," from L.L. furionem (related to furonem "cat," and also "robber"), probably from L. fur (gen. furis) "thief." The verb (mid-15c.) refers to the use of half-tame ferrets to kill rats and flush rabbits from burrows; the extended
EXPAND
sense of "search out, discover" is 1570s.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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