n. 25B6; verb
she ferreted in her handbag : RUMMAGE, feel around, grope around, forage around, fish about/around, poke about/around; search through, hunt through, rifle through; Austral./NZ informal fossick through.
ferreting out misdemeanours : UNEARTH, uncover, discover, detect, search out, bring to light, track down, dig up, root out, nose out; informal get wise to; Brit. informal rumble.