ferret

1
[ fer-it ]
See synonyms for: ferretferretedferretingferreter on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a domesticated, usually red-eyed, and albinic variety of thepolecat, used in Europe for driving rabbits and rats from their burrows.

verb (used with object)
  1. 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.

  2. to hunt with ferrets.

  1. to hunt over with ferrets: to ferret a field.

  2. to search out, discover, or bring to light (often followed by out): to ferret out the facts.

  3. to harry, worry, or torment: His problems ferreted him day and night.

verb (used without object)
  1. to search about.

Origin of ferret

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English feret, furet, from Middle French furet, fuiret, from Vulgar Latin furittus (unrecorded), equivalent to fūr “thief” + -ittus -et

Other words from ferret

  • fer·ret·er, noun
  • fer·ret·y, adjective
  • un·fer·ret·ed, adjective
  • un·fer·ret·ing, adjective

Words Nearby ferret

Other definitions for ferret (2 of 2)

ferret2
[ fer-it ]

noun
  1. a narrow tape or ribbon, as of silk or cotton, used for binding, trimming, etc.

Origin of ferret

2
First recorded in 1570–80; alteration of Italian fioretto “floss silk,” literally, “little flower,” equivalent to fior(e) + -etto diminutive ending; see flower,-et

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ferret in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ferret (1 of 2)

ferret1

/ (ˈfɛrɪt) /


noun
  1. a domesticated albino variety of the polecat Mustela putorius, bred for hunting rats, rabbits, etc

  2. an assiduous searcher

  1. black-footed ferret a musteline mammal, Mustela nigripes, of W North America, closely related to the weasels

verb-rets, -reting or -reted
  1. to hunt (rabbits, rats, etc) with ferrets

  2. (tr usually foll by out) to drive from hiding: to ferret out snipers

  1. (tr usually foll by out) to find by persistent investigation

  2. (intr) to search around

Origin of ferret

1
C14: from Old French furet, from Latin fur thief

Derived forms of ferret

  • ferreter, noun
  • ferrety, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for ferret (2 of 2)

ferret2

ferreting

/ (ˈfɛrɪt) /


noun
  1. silk binding tape

Origin of ferret

2
C16: from Italian fioretti floss silk, plural of fioretto : a little flower, from fiore flower, from Latin flōs

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012