furring

[ fur-ing ]

/ ˈfɜr ɪŋ /

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noun

the act of lining, trimming, or clothing with fur: Furring this coat will take several weeks.

the fur used: What kind of furring would you like?

the formation of a coating of matter on something, as on the tongue: A heavy furring could mean a high fever.

Building Trades.

the attaching of strips of wood or the like (furring strips) to a wall or other surface, as to provide an even support for lath or to provide an air space between the wall and plasterwork.
material used for this purpose.

Nearby words

furphy, furred, furrier, furriery, furriner, furring, furring strip, furrow, furrowed tongue, furry, furshlugginer

Origin of furring

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at fur, -ing¹

Definition for furring (2 of 2)

fur

[ fur ]

/ fɜr /

noun

the fine, soft, thick, hairy coat of the skin of a mammal.

the skin of certain animals, as the sable, ermine, or beaver, covered with such a coat, used for lining, trimming, or making garments.

a garment made of fur.

any coating resembling or suggesting fur, as certain matter on the tongue.

Heraldry. any conventional representation of a fur, as ermine, vair, potent, or their variations.

adjective

of or relating to fur, animal skins, dressed pelts, etc.: a fur coat; a fur trader.

verb (used with object), furred, fur·ring.

to line, face, or trim, with fur, as a garment.

Building Trades. to apply furring to (a wall, ceiling, etc.).

to clothe (a person) with fur.

to coat with foul or deposited matter.

Origin of fur

1300–50; Middle English furre (noun), derivative of furren to trim with fur < Anglo-French furrer, Old French fo(u)rrer orig. to encase, derivative of fuerre sheath < Germanic; akin to Old English fōdder case, sheath, Old Norse fōthr, Greek pṓma

Related formsfur·less, adjective

Can be confusedfir fur

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for furring

In the winter the northern people move up the bays and go "furring."
Le Petit Nord|Anne Elizabeth Caldwell (MacClanahan) Grenfell and Katie Spalding
A piece of furring strip should be run from the top of the pipe to the wall.
Elements of Plumbing|Samuel Dibble
Another cause of disaster is the furring up of the pipes with the lime deposited by hard water when heated.
How it Works|Archibald Williams
Furring employs large numbers of foreign males, and some thousands of both native and foreign females.
Problems of Poverty|John A. Hobson

Stone buildings can be converted into good silos by furring out and double boarding on the inside.
Secrets of Wise Men, Chemists and Great Physicians|William K. David

British Dictionary definitions for furring (1 of 2)

furring

/ (ˈfɜːrɪŋ) /

noun

short for furring strip
the fixing of furring strips
furring strips collectively

the formation of fur on the tongue

trimming of animal fur, as on a coat or other garment, or furs collectively

British Dictionary definitions for furring (2 of 2)

fur

/ (fɜː) /

noun

the dense coat of fine silky hairs on such mammals as the cat, seal, and mink

the dressed skin of certain fur-bearing animals, with the hair left on
(as modifier)a fur coat

a garment made of fur, such as a coat or stole

a pile fabric made in imitation of animal fur
a garment made from such a fabric

heraldry any of various stylized representations of animal pelts or their tinctures, esp ermine or vair, used in coats of arms

informal a whitish coating of cellular debris on the tongue, caused by excessive smoking, an upset stomach, etc

British a whitish-grey deposit consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate precipitated from hard water onto the insides of pipes, boilers, and kettles

make the fur fly to cause a scene or disturbance

verb furs, furring or furred

(tr) to line or trim a garment, etc, with fur

(often foll by up) to cover or become covered with a furlike lining or deposit

(tr) to clothe (a person) in a fur garment or garments

Derived Formsfurless, adjective

Word Origin for fur

C14: from Old French forrer to line a garment, from fuerre sheath, of Germanic origin; related to Old English fōdder case, Old Frisian fōder coat lining

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

Word Origin and History for furring

fur

late 14c. "trimming or lining of a garment" (implied c.1300 in surname Furhode "fur hood"), probably from Old French fourrer "to line, sheathe," from fuerre "sheath, covering," from Frankish *fodr or another Germanic source (cf. Old Frisian foder "coat lining," Old High German fotar "a lining," German Futter, Gothic fodr "sword sheath"), from Proto-Germanic *fodram "sheath."

Sense transferred in English from the notion of a lining to the thing used in it. First applied early 15c. to animal hair still on the animal.

I'le make the fur Flie 'bout the eares of the old Cur. [Butler, "Hudibras," 1663]

As a verb, from c.1300, from Old French fourrer. Related: Furred; furring.

Idioms and Phrases with furring

fur

see make the dust (fur) fly.

furring

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of furring

Definition for furring (2 of 2)

fur

noun

adjective

verb (used with object), furred, fur·ring.

Origin of fur

Examples from the Web for furring

British Dictionary definitions for furring (1 of 2)

furring

noun

British Dictionary definitions for furring (2 of 2)

fur

noun

verb furs, furring or furred

Word Origin for fur

Word Origin and History for furring

fur

Idioms and Phrases with furring

fur