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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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Ferrety
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
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
1350–1400; Middle English fer(r)et(te), fyret, furet < Middle French furet < Vulgar Latin *furittus, equivalent to fūr thief (< Latin ) + -ittus -et
Related forms
fer·ret·er, noun
fer·ret·y, adjective
un·fer·ret·ed, adjective
un·fer·ret·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To ferrety
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
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
EXPANDsense of "search out, discover" is 1570s.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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