Adjacent Words

Ferret definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FER'RET, n.
1. An animal of the genus Mustela, or Weasel kind, about 14 inches in length, of a pale yellow color with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been introduced into Europe. It cannot however bear cold, and cannot subsist even in France, except in a domestic state. Ferrets are used to catch rabbits.
2. A kind of narrow woolen tape.
3. Among glass makers, the iron used to try the melted matter, to see if it is fit to work, and to make the rings at the mouths of bottles.
FER'RET, v.t. To drive out of a lurking place, as a ferret does the coney.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: musteline mammal of prairie regions of United States; nearly extinct [syn: black-footed ferret, ferret, Mustela nigripes]
2: domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for hunting rats and rabbits v
1: hound or harry relentlessly
2: hunt with ferrets
3: search and discover through persistent investigation; "She ferreted out the truth" [syn: ferret out, ferret]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English furet, ferret, from Anglo-French firet, furet, from Vulgar Latin *furittus, literally, little thief, diminutive of Latin fur thief — more at furtive Date: 14th century 1. a. a domesticated usually albino, brownish, or silver-gray animal (Mustela putorius furo) that is descended from the European polecat b. black-footed ferret 2. an active and persistent searcher • ferrety adjective II. verb Date: 15th century intransitive verb 1. to hunt with ferrets 2. to search about transitive verb 1. a. (1) to hunt (as rabbits) with ferrets (2) to force out of hiding ; flush b. to find and bring to light by searching — usually used with out <ferret out the answers> 2. harry, worry • ferreter noun III. noun Etymology: probably modification of Italian fioretti floss silk, from plural of fioretto, diminutive of fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at blow Date: 1649 a narrow cotton, silk, or wool tape — called also ferreting

U.S. Military Dictionary

An aircraft, ship, or vehicle especially equipped for the detection, location, recording, and analyzing of electromagnetic radiation.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a small half-domesticated polecat, Mustela putorius furo, used in catching rabbits, rats, etc. 2 a person who searches assiduously. --v. 1 intr. hunt with ferrets. 2 intr. rummage; search about. 3 tr. (often foll. by about, away, out, etc.) a clear out (holes or an area of ground) with ferrets. b take or drive away (rabbits etc.) with ferrets. 4 tr. (foll. by out) search out (secrets, criminals, etc.). Derivatives: ferreter n. ferrety adj. Etymology: ME f. OF fu(i)ret alt. f. fu(i)ron f. LL furo -onis f. L fur thief

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ferret Fer"ret, n. [Ital. foretto, dim. of fiore flower; or F. fleuret. Cf. Floret.] A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; -- called also ferreting.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ferret Fer"ret, n. [F. feret, dim. or fer iron, L. ferrum.] (Glass Making) The iron used for trying the melted glass to see if is fit to work, and for shaping the rings at the mouths of bottles.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ferret Fer"ret, n. [F. furet, cf. LL. furo; prob. fr. L. fur thief (cf. Furtive); cf. Arm. fur wise, sly.] (Zo["o]l.) An animal of the Weasel family (Mustela or Putorius furo), about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white color, with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been domesticated in Europe. Ferrets are used to drive rabbits and rats out of their holes.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ferret Fer"ret, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ferreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ferreting.] [Cf. F. fureter. See Ferret, n.] To drive or hunt out of a lurking place, as a ferret does the cony; to search out by patient and sagacious efforts; -- often used with out; as, to ferret out a secret. Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(ferrets, ferreting, ferreted) 1. A ferret is a small, fierce animal which is used for hunting rabbits and rats. N-COUNT 2. If you ferret about for something, you look for it in a lot of different places or in a place where it is hidden. (BRIT INFORMAL) She nonetheless continued to ferret about for possible jobs... She ferreted among some papers. = search VERB: V about/around, V prep

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Lev. 11:30 (R.V., "gecko"), one of the unclean creeping things. It was perhaps the Lacerta gecko which was intended by the Hebrew word (anakah, a cry, "mourning," the creature which groans) here used, i.e., the "fan-footed" lizard, the gecko which makes a mournful wail. The LXX. translate it by a word meaning "shrew-mouse," of which there are three species in Palestine. The Rabbinical writers regard it as the hedgehog. The translation of the Revised Version is to be preferred.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

fer'-et ('anaqah, the Revised Version (British and American) GECKO): Occurs only in Le 11:30 the King James Version, in the list of animals which are unclean "among the creeping things that creep upon the earth." the Revised Version (British and American) has "gecko" with the marginal note, "Words of uncertain meaning, but probably denoting four kinds of lizards." The list of animals in Le 11:29,30 includes

(1) choledh, English Versions of the Bible "weasel";

(2) `akhbar, English Versions of the Bible "mouse";

(3) tsabh, the King James Version "tortoise," the Revised Version (British and American) "great lizard";

(4) 'anaqkah, the King James Version "ferret," the Revised Version (British and American) "gecko";

(5) koach the King James Version "chameleon," the Revised Version (British and American) "land crocodile";

(6) leTa'ah, English Versions of the Bible "lizard";

(7) chomeT, the King James Version "snail," the Revised Version (British and American) "sand lizard";

(8) tinshemeth, the King James Version "mole," the Revised Version (British and American) "chameleon."

It will be noted that while Revised Version makes the first two mammals and the remaining six reptiles, the King James Version makes not only (1) and (2) but also (4) and (8) mammals, and (7) a mollusk. So far as this general classification is concerned the King James Version follows the Septuagint, except in the case of (7). It must be borne in mind that all these words except (2) and (8) occur only in this passage, while (2) and (8) occur each in only a few passages where the context throws but uncertain light upon the meaning. Under these circumstances we ought to be content with the rendering of the Septuagint, unless from philology or tradition we can show good reason for differing. For 'anaqah, Septuagint has mugale, which occurs in Herodotus and Aristotle and may be a shrew mouse or a field mouse. Just as the next word, koach, is found in other passages (see CHAMELEON) with the meaning of "strength," so 'anaqah occurs in several places signifying "moaning" or "sighing" (Ps 12:5; 79:11; 102:20; Mal 2:13). It seems to be from the root, 'anaq, "to choke," "to be in anguish" (compare `anaq, "a collar"; chanaq, "to choke"; Arabic `unq, "neck"; Arabic khanaq, "to strangle"; Greek anagke; Latin angustus; German enge, Nacken; English "anxious," "neck"). Some creature seems to be meant which utters a low cry or squeak, and neither "ferret" (the King James Version) nor "gecko" (Revised Version (British and American)) seems to have a better claim than the older Septuagint rendering of mugale = "shrew mouse" or "field mouse."

Alfred Ely Day

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A tradesman who sells goods to youug unthrift heirs, at excessive rates, and then continually duns them for the debt. To ferret; to search out or expel any one from his hiding-place, as a ferret drives out rabbits; also to cheat. Ferret-eyed; red-eyed: ferrets have red eyes.

Moby Thesaurus

Argus, Cape polecat, ape, bar, bear, cat, cavy, chimp, chimpanzee, coon, eagle, foumart, glutton, groundhog, guinea pig, hawk, hedgehog, lynx, monk, monkey, mousehound, opossum, polecat, porcupine, possum, prairie dog, quill pig, raccoon, skunk, weasel, whistle-pig, wolverine, woodchuck, zoril