I. R ˈfər, + vowel ˈfər.; - R ˈfə̄, + suffixal vowel ˈfər. also ˈfə̄r, + vowel in a following word ˈfər. or ˈfə̄ also ˈfə̄r
dialect
variant of far
II. verb
( furred ; furred ; furring ; furs )
Etymology: Middle English furren, from Middle French fourrer to line a garment, from Old French forrer, from fuerre sheath, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English fōdder case, sheath, Old Frisian fōder lining of a coat, Old High German fuotar case, sheath, Gothic fodr sheath; akin to Greek pōy herd, flock, Sanskrit pāti he watches over, protects; basic meaning: guarding cattle
transitive verb
1. : to cover, line, or trim with fur or a fabric resembling fur
russet velvet furred with sables — Francis Hackett
2.
a. : to clothe with fur — usually used in passive
it was the 29th May … and still the fair were furred — Tinsley's Magazine
b. : to facilitate the growth of fur on (an animal)
the same house will be used in September through November for furring about 600 mink — National Fur News
3. : to coat or clog as if with fur
dust had furred the beams and lodged on ridges in the plaster — Clemence Dane
4. carpentry : to apply furring to : support on furring — often used with down, out, up
fur down a ceiling
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to become coated or clogged as if with fur
the pipes … furred up with lime — English Digest
b. : to become fluffy
her tail furred out, her hair rose, and she assumed the typical attitude of a cat close-cornered by a dog — Archibald Rutledge
2. : to grow fur
mink fur better in cool regions
III. noun
( -s ; see sense 4b )
Etymology: Middle English furre, probably from furren, v.
1. : a piece of the dressed pelt of an animal (as ermine, rabbit, seal) used as a material to make, trim, or line wearing apparel or other articles
advertisers should invariably indicate by suitable descriptive matter … just what the fur is — Chamber of Commerce Bulletin
2.
a. : an article of clothing made of fur
her new fur was a full-length muskrat coat
b. : one or more dressed pelts fashioned into a woman's neckpiece — usually used in plural
a set of furs
c. : a trimming or lining of fur on a garment worn as a mark of office or state or as a badge of a university degree
add … wisdom to the furs of power — William Shenstone
3. : the fine soft thick hairy covering or coat of a mammal usually consisting of a double coating of hair that includes a layer of comparatively short soft curly barbed hairs next to the skin protected by longer smoother stiffer hairs that grow up through these — compare hair 2, pelage , wool 1
4.
a. furs plural : the skins of animals with the fur attached : peltry
a cargo of furs
b. plural usually fur : fur-bearing animals
many trainers break their retrievers of fur altogether, not allowing them to see or carry rabbits for at least the first two seasons — P.R.A.Moxon
5. : any of several patterns used in heraldry that are conventionally classified as tinctures
6. : a coating resembling or suggesting fur: as
a. : a coat of epithelial debris on the tongue
b. : a deposit formed on the interior of boilers and other vessels by hard water and composed chiefly of carbonates
c. : the thick pile of a fabric (as chenille)
d. : the rough surface of lumber after sawing
7. : a piece of wood nailed on a wall or ceiling to serve as base for a finished surface — compare furring 3b(1)
IV. adjective
: of or relating to fur
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, variant of furgh, forwe, forow — more at furrow
dialect Britain : furrow
VI. abbreviation
1. furlong
2. furlough
3. further