Plural of fur; the soft, thick hair covering an animal's body, or clothing made from animal fur.
From Old French 'furure' or 'fourrure', from 'fourrer' meaning 'to line' or 'to sheathe'. The word likely comes from a Germanic source. Historically, 'fur' referred specifically to the practice of lining garments, not just the material itself. Over time, it broadened to mean the material and the animals bearing it.
The word 'fur' originally meant the lining of a garment—not the fur itself! Medieval nobles would line their expensive robes with soft fur for warmth, and eventually people called the fur lining 'the fur', shifting the word's meaning entirely through everyday speech.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.