Definition of Ferret

1. Noun. Musteline mammal of prairie regions of United States; nearly extinct.

Exact synonyms: Black-footed Ferret, Mustela Nigripes
Generic synonyms: Mustelid, Musteline, Musteline Mammal
Group relationships: Genus Mustela, Mustela

2. Verb. Hound or harry relentlessly.
Generic synonyms: Hound, Hunt, Trace

3. Noun. Domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for hunting rats and rabbits.

4. Verb. Hunt with ferrets.
Generic synonyms: Hunt, Hunt Down, Run, Track Down

5. Verb. Search and discover through persistent investigation. "She ferreted out the truth"
Exact synonyms: Ferret Out
Generic synonyms: Discover, Find

Definition of Ferret

1. n. 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.

2. v. t. 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.

3. n. A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; -- called also ferreting.

4. n. 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.

Definition of Ferret

1. Noun. A mammal rather like a weasel, but which was originally bred from the polecat and often trained to hunt rats or rabbits in England. ¹

2. Verb. To hunt game with ferrets. ¹

3. Verb. To uncover and bring to light by searching; usually to ''ferret out''. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Ferret

1. to search out by careful investigation [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Ferret

1. An animal of the Weasel family (Mustela or Putorius furo), about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white colour, 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. Origin: F. Furet, cf. LL. Furo; prob. Fr. L. Fur thief (cf. Furtive); cf. Arm. Fur wise, sly. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Ferret

ferrate
ferrates
ferratin
ferredoxin
ferredoxin-NADP reductase
ferredoxin-nitrite oxidoreductase
ferredoxin-thioredoxin reductase
ferredoxins
ferrel
ferreled
ferreling
ferrelled
ferrelling
ferrels
ferreous
ferret (current term)
ferret-eye
ferret badger
ferret out
ferreted
ferreter
ferreters
ferreting
ferretings
ferretlike
ferrets
ferretto
ferrety
ferri-
ferriable

Literary usage of Ferret

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Switzerland, and the Adjacent Portions of Italy, Savoy and the Tyrol by Karl Baedeker (Firm) (1877)
"At the hamlet of Entreves (4'216'); which lies to the left of the path, the Boire is joined by a stream descending from the ferret Valley (see below), ..."

2. The Illustrated Natural History by John George Wood (1865)
"It must be borne in mind that this ferret was trained for the purpose. ... The ferret was put in, and it was astonishing to see the systematic way in which ..."

3. Travels through the Alps of Savoy and other parts of the Pennine chain, with by James David Forbes (1843)
"IN order to complete our narrative of the tour, or circuit of Mont Blanc, I proceed to describe shortly the route by the Col ferret across the great chain ..."

4. Friends Intelligencer by Friends Intelligencer Association (1858)
"''Being greatly surprised that the ferret, an animal of such slow locomotive powers, should be so destructive to the rat tribe, he determined to bring both ..."

5. Annals and Magazine of Natural History by William Jardine (1846)
"On the Wound of the ferret, with Observations on the Instincts of Animals, ... HAVING often heard of the remarkable way in which the ferret destroys its ..."

6. The Living Age by Making of America Project, Eliakim Littell, Robert S. Littell (1857)
"The ferret now erected his head, sniffed about, and began fearlessly to push his way towards the spot where the scent of his game was the strongest, ..."

7. Gleanings in Natural History by Edward Jesse, Gilbert White (1834)
"probably be triumphant; but in close quarters, and particularly in the dark, the insidious ferret would ultimately prove the victor. ..."

8. A History of the Earth, and Animated Nature by Oliver Goldsmith (1823)
"THE ferret. THE animal next in size to the ermine is the ferret; ... The ferret is about one foot long, being nearly four inches longer than the weasel. ..."

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