ferret — [ ferɛ ] n. m. • XIVe; de fer I ♦ Bout métallique qui termine un lacet, une aiguillette. Par ext. Des ferrets de diamants, ornés de diamants. L anecdote des ferrets de la reine (dans « Les Trois Mousquetaires » d Alexandre Dumas). II ♦ Minér.… … Encyclopédie Universelle
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 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
ferret — Ferret. s. m. Diminutif. Fer d aiguillette. Un ferret d aiguillette. On dit prov. d Une chose de peu de valeur, & dont on ne fait nul cas, qu On ne voudroit pas en donner un ferret d aiguillette … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
ferret — ferret1 [fer′ət] n. [< It fioretti, floss silk, orig. pl. of fioretto, dim. of fiore, a flower < L flos, FLOWER] a narrow ribbon of cotton, wool, silk, etc.: also ferreting ferret2 [fer′ət] n. [ME feret < OFr furet < LL furetus, dim.… … English World dictionary
ferret — I verb bring to light, dig out, discover, disinter, elicit, find, fish out, hunt, look for, rimari, root out, search, seek, trace, track down, unearth associated concepts: ferret out a crime II index hunt, search … Law dictionary
ferret — (n.) late 14c., from O.Fr. furet, dim. of fuiron weasel, ferret, lit. thief, probably from L.L. furionem (related to furonem cat, also robber ), from L. fur (gen. furis) thief. The verb (early 15c.) refers to the use of half tame ferrets to kill… … Etymology dictionary
ferret — ► NOUN 1) a domesticated albino or brown polecat, used for catching rabbits. 2) informal a search. ► VERB (ferreted, ferreting) 1) hunt with ferrets. 2) search for something in a place or container. 3) … English terms 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 furo} syn. {Putorius furo}), about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
