ferret1

[fer-it] /ˈfɛr ɪt/
noun
1.
a domesticated, usually red-eyed, and albinic variety of the polecat, used in Europe for driving rabbits and rats from their burrows.
2.
black-footed ferret.
verb (used with object)
3.
to drive out by using or as if using a ferret (often followed by out):
to ferret rabbits from their burrows; to ferret out enemies.
4.
to hunt with ferrets.
5.
to hunt over with ferrets:
to ferret a field.
6.
to search out, discover, or bring to light (often followed by out):
to ferret out the facts.
7.
to harry, worry, or torment:
His problems ferreted him day and night.
verb (used without object)
8.
to search about.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English fer(r)et(te), fyret, furet < Middle French furet < Vulgar Latin *furittus, equivalent to fūr thief (< Latin) + -ittus -et
Related forms
ferreter, noun
ferrety, adjective
unferreted, adjective
unferreting, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for ferret out

ferret1

/ˈfɛrɪt/
noun
1.
a domesticated albino variety of the polecat Mustela putorius, bred for hunting rats, rabbits, etc
2.
an assiduous searcher
3.
black-footed ferret, a musteline mammal, Mustela nigripes, of W North America, closely related to the weasels
verb -rets, -reting, -reted
4.
to hunt (rabbits, rats, etc) with ferrets
5.
(transitive) usually foll by out. to drive from hiding: to ferret out snipers
6.
(transitive) usually foll by out. to find by persistent investigation
7.
(intransitive) to search around
Derived Forms
ferreter, noun
ferrety, adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Old French furet, from Latin fur thief

ferret2

/ˈfɛrɪt/
noun
1.
silk binding tape
Word Origin
C16: from Italian fioretti floss silk, plural of fioretto: a little flower, from fiore flower, from Latin flōs
Word Origin and History for ferret out

ferret

n.

late 14c., from Old French furet, diminutive of fuiron "weasel, ferret," literally "thief," probably from Late Latin furionem (related to furonem "cat," also "robber"), from Latin fur (genitive furis) "thief."

v.

early 15c., from ferret (n.), in reference to the use of half-tame ferrets to kill rats and flush rabbits from burrows; the extended sense of "search out, discover" is 1570s. Related: Ferreted; ferreting.

Slang definitions & phrases for ferret out

ferret

verb

To search inquisitively; find by searching: ferret out the whole story

[1570+; fr the notion of the ferret as a restless and assiduous searcher]


ferret out in the Bible

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.

Idioms and Phrases with ferret out

ferret out

Uncover and bring to light by searching, as in Sandy was a superb reporter, tireless in ferreting out whatever facts were needed for her story. This expression alludes to hunting with ferrets, weasel-like animals formerly used to drive rabbits out of their burrows. [ c. 1600 ]