furphy
[ fur-fee ]
Origin of furphy
1First 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
Words Nearby furphy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for furphy (1 of 2)
furphy
/ (ˈfɜːfɪ) /
nounplural -phies
Australian slang a rumour or fictitious story
Origin of furphy
1C20: 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
Browse