n.
Pronunciation: ' fer- ə t
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English furet, ferret, from Anglo-French firet, furet, from Vulgar Latin *furittus, literally, little thief, diminutive of Latin fur thief ― more at FURTIVE
Date: 14th century
1 a : a domesticated usually albino, brownish, or silver-gray animal ( Mustela putorius furo ) that is descended from the European polecat b : BLACK-FOOTED FERRET
2 : an active and persistent searcher
– fer · rety \ - ə -t ē \ adjective