ferret1 (feret)

[Early mod. E. also ferrette; G. frett, usually in dim. frettchen ), OSp. fur on, Sp. huron = Pg. furão = OF. fur on, a ferret), these names, as well as ML. furunculus, furuncus, fur us, being applied to the ferret and other animals of the weasel kind, in allusion to their slyne and craftine , a marten, glo ed by ML. furo ( n- ), furunculus, and furuncus. The W. ffured, a ferret, which rests on ffur, wary, wily, crafty, wise, Bret. fur, crafty, wise, may have been suggested (with its verb ffuredu, ferret out) by the E. and Rom. forms. Other alleged Celtic forms do not appear.] 1. An artificial albinotic variety of the fitch or polecat, Put or i us vulgar is or fæ Ferret (Put or i us furo). tid us, said to be of African origin, about 14 inches long, of a whitish or pale-yellowish color, with red or pink eyes, bred in confinement in Europe and America to kill rats, rabbits, and 4t. To worry, as a ferret does his prey. I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. Shak ., Hen. V., iv. 4. IMG:content-1238.jpg:[blocks in formation]