furlough

[fur-loh] /ˈfɜr loʊ/
noun
1.
Military. a vacation or leave of absence granted to an enlisted person.
2.
a usually temporary layoff from work:
Many plant workers have been forced to go on furlough.
3.
a temporary leave of absence authorized for a prisoner from a penitentiary.
verb (used with object)
4.
to grant a furlough to.
5.
to lay (an employee or worker) off from work, usually temporarily.
Origin
1615-25; variant of earlier furlogh, furloff < Dutch verlof leave, permission; current pronunciation by association with dough, etc.
Related forms
prefurlough, noun
Examples from the web for furlough
  • The forced furlough has meant the new regulations will not be available until spring.
  • At the direction of the governor, my university has announced plans to temporarily furlough employees later this fiscal year.
  • The office will also eliminate three positions, and senior staff will take four unpaid furlough days.
British Dictionary definitions for furlough

furlough

/ˈfɜːləʊ/
noun
1.
leave of absence from military duty
2.
(US) a temporary laying-off of employees, usually because there is insufficient work to occupy them
verb (transitive)
3.
to grant a furlough to
4.
(US) to lay off (staff) temporarily
Word Origin
C17: from Dutch verlof, from ver-for- + lof leave, permission; related to Swedish förlof
Word Origin and History for furlough
n.

1620s, vorloffe, from Dutch verlof, literally "permission," from Middle Dutch ver- "completely, for" + laf, lof "permission," which is related to the second element in believe and to leave (n.).

The -gh spelling developed by 1770s and represents an "f" that was once pronounced at the end of the word but disappeared fairly soon thereafter in English.

v.

1783, from furlough (n.). Related: Furloughed; furloughing.