furphy
[ fur-fee ]
/ ˈfɜr fi /
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noun, plural fur·phies.Australian.
a false report; rumor.
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Origin of furphy
1910–15; after Furphy carts water and rubbish carts manufactured by the Furphy family of Shepparton, Victoria, and used during World War I; compare parallel semantic development of scuttlebutt
Words nearby furphy
furocoumarin, furor, furore, furor epilepticus, furosemide, furphy, furred, furrier, furriery, furriner, furring
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
British Dictionary definitions for furphy (1 of 2)
furphy
/ (ˈfɜːfɪ) /
noun plural -phies
Australian slang a rumour or fictitious story
Word Origin for furphy
C20: from Furphy carts (used for water or sewage in World War I), made at a foundry established by the Furphy family
British Dictionary definitions for furphy (2 of 2)
Furphy
/ (ˈfɜːfɪ) /
noun
Joseph, pen name Tom Collins . 1843–1912, Australian author. His works include the classic Australian novel Such is Life (1903) and The Buln-Buln and the Brolga (1948)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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