Ferrets

/ˈfɛrɪts/ noun

Definition

Small, elongated carnivorous animals with long bodies and short legs, often kept as pets, or the verb meaning to search persistently.

Etymology

From Old French 'furet,' from Latin 'furo' (a thief), suggesting the animal's sneaky nature; the verb 'ferret out' comes from hunting rabbits with ferrets who pursue prey underground.

Kelly Says

Ferrets are one of the few domesticated animals used for hunting alongside humans—people have trained them for rabbit hunting for millennia, making them one of humanity's oldest working partners.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.