furphy

[ fur-fee ]
/ ˈfɜr fi /

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, furor epilepticus, furore, furosemide, furphy, furred, furrier, furriery, furriner, furring
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012