ferret

1 of 3

noun (1)

fer·ret ˈfer-ət

: a domesticated usually albino, brownish, or silver-gray animal (Mustela furo synonym Mustela putorius furo) that is descended from the European polecat

: black-footed ferret

: an active and persistent searcher

ferrety

ˈfer-ə-tē

adjective

ferret

2 of 3

verb

ferreted; ferreting; ferrets

intransitive verb

: to hunt with ferrets

: to search about

transitive verb

a(1)

: to hunt (animals, such as rabbits) with ferrets

(2)

: to force out of hiding : flush

: to find and bring to light by searching

—usually used with out

ferret out the answers

: harry, worry

ferreter noun

ferret

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a narrow cotton, silk, or wool tape

called also ferreting

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Ferret as a Verb

Since the 14th century, English speakers have used ferret as the name of a small, slinky, domesticated mammal of the weasel family. The word came to us by way of Anglo-French and can be traced back to the Latin word fur, meaning "thief." These days ferrets are often kept as pets, but previously they were used to hunt rabbits, rats, and other vermin, and to drive them from their underground burrows. By the 15th century, the verb ferret was being used for the action of hunting with ferrets. By the late 16th century, the verb had taken on figurative uses as well. Today, we most frequently encounter the verb ferret in the sense of "to find and bring to light by searching."

Examples of ferret in a Sentence

Verb the reporter ferreted out massive evidence of corruption at city hall

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

MidWest Nation Cozy Rat & Ferret Cube MidWest Nation Cozy Rat & Ferret Cube Get this cute hanging cube for your pet ferret on sale at Chewy. —

Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024 The ferret has a suspicious lump and James tells Joe to bring it by the practice. —

Alice Burton, Vulture, 14 Jan. 2024

Verb

Many people don’t know or may not remember what triggers their anxiety, but therapists can ferret it out by linking higher anxiety levels to in-the-moment events. —

Francine Russo, Scientific American, 5 Apr. 2023 Training camp and the preseason games should ferret that out for the 49ers’ roster. —

Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 18 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for ferret

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English furet, ferret, from Anglo-French firet, furet, from Vulgar Latin *furittus, literally, little thief, diminutive of Latin fur thief — more at furtive

Noun (2)

probably modification of Italian fioretti floss silk, from plural of fioretto, diminutive of fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at blow

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of ferret was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ferret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferret. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

ferret

1 of 2 noun

fer·ret ˈfer-ət

: a domesticated usually albino, brownish, or silver-gray mammal closely related to the European polecat

: black-footed ferret

ferret

2 of 2 verb

: to drive out of a hiding place

: to find and bring to light by searching

—usually used with out

Last Updated: 14 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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ferret

noun (1)

verb

noun (2)

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Synonyms

Examples of ferret in a Sentence

Word History

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Dictionary Entries Near ferret

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Kids Definition