ferret

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.

2. black-footed ferret.

verb (used with object)

1. to drive out by using or as if using a ferret (often followed byout ).

   to ferret rabbits from their burrows;

   to ferret out enemies.

2. to hunt with ferrets.

3. to hunt over with ferrets.

   to ferret a field.

4. to search out, discover, or bring to light (often followed byout ).

   to ferret out the facts.

5. to harry, worry, or torment.

   His problems ferreted him day and night.

verb (used without object)

1. to search about.

ferret

²

[fer-it]

noun

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

ferret

¹

/ ˈfɛrɪt /

noun

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

2. an assiduous searcher

3. a musteline mammal, Mustela nigripes , of W North America, closely related to the weasels

verb

1. to hunt (rabbits, rats, etc) with ferrets

2. to drive from hiding

   to ferret out snipers

3. to find by persistent investigation

4. (intr) to search around

ferret

²

/ ˈfɛrɪt /

noun

1. silk binding tape

Other Word Forms

• ferrety adjective
• ferreter noun
• unferreted adjective
• unferreting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferret¹

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

Origin of ferret²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferret¹

C14: from Old French furet , from Latin fur thief

Origin of ferret²

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

Example Sentences

A 2022 study in mice and ferrets showed that a universal flu vaccine NIH plans to support has promise.

From Salon

They couple began with a handful of their own animals but gradually started taking in all creatures great and small, including horses, sheep and ferrets.

From BBC

A Hampshire MP is set to see a law he proposed to clampdown on the smuggling of dogs, cats and ferrets formally adopted.

From BBC

The controversy prompted a more broadly-based movement to ferret out other Vietnamese celebrities suspected of conspiring against the country.

From Los Angeles Times

The fact that Duffy is wasting his time by making these threats and combing through awarded contracts to ferret out such putative violations is, however, a settled question: Of course he is.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• check 
• comb 
• examine 
• explore 
• go through 
• hunt 
• hunt for www.thesaurus.com
• inspect 
• investigate 
• look 
• probe 
• ransack 
• scan 
• scour 
• scout 
• scrutinize 
• seek 
• sift