Ferret
Ferret , noun
[French furet, compare Late Latin furo; prob. from Latin fur thief (compare Furtive); compare Arm. fur wise, sly.]
(Zoology) An animal of the Weasel family (Mustela furo syn. 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. They are sometimes kept as pets.
Ferret , transitive verb
[Compare French fureter. See Ferret, n.]
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.
Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him.
Ferret , noun
[Ital. foretto, dim. of fiore flower; or French fleuret. Compare Floret.]
A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; -- called also ferreting.
Ferret , noun
[French feret, dim. or fer iron, Latin ferrum.]
(Glass Making) 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.