furphy
[ fur-fee ]
/ ˈfɜr fi /
noun, plural fur·phies. Australian.
a false report; rumor.
Nearby words
furocoumarin, furor, furor epilepticus, furore, furosemide, furphy, furred, furrier, furriery, furriner, furring
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
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