furlough

[ fur-loh ]

noun

1. Military. a vacation or leave of absence granted to an enlisted person.
2. a usually temporary layoff from work:

   Many plant workers have been forced to go on furlough.

3. a temporary leave of absence authorized for a prisoner from a penitentiary.

verb (used with object)

1. to grant a furlough to.
2. to lay (an employee or worker) off from work, usually temporarily.

furlough

/ ˈfɜːləʊ /

noun

1. leave of absence from military duty
2. a temporary laying-off of employees, usually because there is insufficient work to occupy them

verb

1. to grant a furlough to
2. to lay off (staff) temporarily

Other Words From

• pre·furlough noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of furlough¹

First recorded in 1615–25; variant of earlier furloff, furlogh, from Dutch verlof “dismissal, permission to leave,” appparently from Middle Low German vorlōf, noun derivative of vorlöven “to permit (to leave),” blend of vor- for- and erlöven “to allow, permit” ( a- ³( def ), leave ²( def ) ); cognate with German erlauben, verlauben, Gothic uslaubjan, Old English ālīefan “to allow, permit”; current pronunciation by association with dough, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of furlough¹

C17: from Dutch verlof , from ver- for- + lof leave, permission; related to Swedish förlof

Example Sentences

Days later, after four years in jail, Tavakoli was freed on furlough.

From The Daily Beast

With more than 2/3 of CIA civilians on furlough, a number of worst-case situations became far more likely.

From The Daily Beast

No one can claim that the harm to national security was unclear while the government was on a forced furlough.

From The Daily Beast

Suddenly she has the power to furlough people, so she uses it.

From The Daily Beast

These are employees already being effected by furlough brought under the sequester.

From The Daily Beast

His father was a civilian in India, and was returning on furlough to England, after a long absence.

From Project Gutenberg

A captain in the Austrian army actually sought a furlough, giving as his reason that he desired to kill Napoleon.

From Project Gutenberg

But the soldier or the sailor after long years of service gets leave to return to his home on a furlough or a discharge.

From Project Gutenberg

It looks now as if a ride in an aëroplane might not be a strange experience in our third furlough.

From Project Gutenberg

The furlough, which was to expire on the 15th of August, was afterward extended by Anjou to the 1st of October.

From Project Gutenberg