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 by out ):

   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 by out ):

   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. silk binding tape

ferret

²

/ ˈfɛrɪt /

noun

1. a domesticated albino variety of the polecat Mustela putorius , bred for hunting rats, rabbits, etc
2. an assiduous searcher
3. black-footed ferret
   black-footed ferret a musteline mammal, Mustela nigripes , of W North America, closely related to the weasels

verb

1. to hunt (rabbits, rats, etc) with ferrets
2. trusually foll byout to drive from hiding

   to ferret out snipers

3. trusually foll byout to find by persistent investigation
4. intr to search around

Derived Forms

• ˈferreter, noun
• ˈferrety, adjective

Other Words From

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

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

Origin of ferret²

C14: from Old French furet , from Latin fur thief

Example Sentences

A decade ago, scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health used ferrets to engineer a highly lethal flu virus.

From Washington Post

Two researchers responded and were funded, and they discovered genetic changes that regulated H5N1 transmissibility in ferrets.

From MIT Technology Review

His incarceration had made him less social and he was now like a lonely ferret without much to say.

From Washington Blade

Illuminated in the beam of the headlights, the ferret and the ranger stared at each other for one and a half minutes, before it padded away into the night.

From Popular-Science

While there are no immediate plans to reintroduce the ferret at TBNG, it may well be the best existing site across the species’ range in 12 western states, Mexico, and Canada.

From Popular-Science

Ferret is a carefully chosen comparison, implying diligence but absolutely no imagination.

From The Daily Beast

What I saw was a careful and ingenious reporter ferret out a fraud with care.

From The Daily Beast

That alone provides a powerful incentive for civil society to try to ferret out the numbers.

From The Daily Beast

They were used to ferret rebel fighters out of their strongholds.

From The Daily Beast

Reich, the former American diplomat, says he thinks Morales might just be crazy enough to ferret Snowden to La Paz.

From The Daily Beast

A soldier is not a conjurer that he should be handed over a fully laden ship and told to ferret out a fuse key.

From Project Gutenberg

Where you like; there must be two or three remaining in the neighborhood, so ferret them out and bring them here.

From Project Gutenberg

Oh, if he'd a notion I was within twenty miles of him, he'd ferret me out to pay off old grudges.

From Project Gutenberg

I stuck my hand down, and it was given a vicious bite by a white, pink-eyed ferret Paul was carrying there.

From Project Gutenberg

He was endeavoring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighboring church clock struck twelve.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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