furphy

[ fur-fee ]

noun

, Australian.

, plural fur·phies.

1. a false report or improbable story; rumor.

Furphy

¹

/ ˈfɜːfɪ /

noun

1. FurphyJoseph18431912MAustralianWRITING: author 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)

furphy

²

/ ˈfɜːfɪ /

noun

1. slang.
   a rumour or fictitious story

Word History and Origins

Origin of furphy¹

First recorded in 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of furphy¹

C20: from Furphy carts (used for water or sewage in World War I), made at a foundry established by the Furphy family