fur

¹

[ fur ]

noun

1. the fine, soft, thick, hairy coat of the skin of a mammal.
2. the skin of certain animals, as the sable, ermine, or beaver, covered with such a coat, used for lining, trimming, or making garments.
3. a garment made of fur.
4. any coating resembling or suggesting fur, as certain matter on the tongue.
5. Heraldry. any conventional representation of a fur, as ermine, vair, potent, or their variations.

adjective

1. of or relating to fur, animal skins, dressed pelts, etc.:

   a fur coat;

   a fur trader.

verb (used with object)

, furred, fur·ring.

1. to line, face, or trim, with fur, as a garment.
2. Building Trades. to apply furring to (a wall, ceiling, etc.).
3. to clothe (a person) with fur.
4. to coat with foul or deposited matter.

fur.

²

abbreviation for

1. furlong; furlongs.

fur

¹

/ fɜː /

noun

1. the dense coat of fine silky hairs on such mammals as the cat, seal, and mink
2. 1. the dressed skin of certain fur-bearing animals, with the hair left on
   2. ( as modifier )

      a fur coat

3. a garment made of fur, such as a coat or stole
4. 1. a pile fabric made in imitation of animal fur
   2. a garment made from such a fabric
5. heraldry any of various stylized representations of animal pelts or their tinctures, esp ermine or vair, used in coats of arms
6. informal.
   a whitish coating of cellular debris on the tongue, caused by excessive smoking, an upset stomach, etc
7. a whitish-grey deposit consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate precipitated from hard water onto the insides of pipes, boilers, and kettles
8. make the fur fly
   make the fur fly to cause a scene or disturbance

verb

1. tr to line or trim a garment, etc, with fur
2. often foll by up to cover or become covered with a furlike lining or deposit
3. tr to clothe (a person) in a fur garment or garments

fur.

²

abbreviation for

1. furlong

Derived Forms

• ˈfurless, adjective

Other Words From

• furless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fur¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English furre (noun), derivative of furren “to trim with fur,” from Anglo-French furrer, Old French fo(u)rrer, originally “to encase,” derivative of fuerre “sheath,” from Germanic; akin to Old English fōdder “case, sheath,” Old Norse fōthr, Greek pṓma

Word History and Origins

Origin of fur¹

C14: from Old French forrer to line a garment, from fuerre sheath, of Germanic origin; related to Old English fōdder case, Old Frisian fōder coat lining

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make the fur fly,
   1. to cause a scene or disturbance, especially of a violent nature; make trouble:

      When the kids got mad they really made the fur fly.

   2. to do things quickly:

      He sure makes the fur fly when it’s his turn to do the housecleaning.

More idioms and phrases containing fur

see make the dust (fur) fly .

Example Sentences

Last year, her group successfully helped push through a measure that made the sale of cat fur illegal in the country.

From The Daily Beast

Anderson pleaded with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ban clothing made from animal fur.

From The Daily Beast

She holds a young girl closely inside her oversized fur coat; both gaze into lens.

From The Daily Beast

Her father, who managed a fur trading business in China, died when she was 5.

From The Daily Beast

MOSCOW — Fur coats may well be in high demand this winter among those glamorous ladies in Ukraine who can afford them.

From The Daily Beast

He can't talk much, though; 'tain't good fur him; his lungs is out er kilter.

From Project Gutenberg

With horror she had heard her brother addressed by a disreputable costermonger in a mangy fur cap, as "Old pal."

From Project Gutenberg

But ef Jos keeps on, airnin' ez much ez he hez so fur, he's goin' ter pay the Injun part on 't, when he cums.

From Project Gutenberg

They're up every mornin' uv thar lives long afore daylight, a feedin' their stock, an' gittin' ready fur the day's work.

From Project Gutenberg

Though she was warmly wrapped in a soft rug of silvery fur, a chill crept into her heart.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• coat
• jacket
• pelt
• skin
• wool