I. ˈfər(ˌ)lō, ˈfə̄(-, ˈfəi(- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Dutch verlof, literally, permission, from Middle Dutch verlof, from ver- for- (akin to Old High German fir- ) + lof permission; akin to Middle High German loube permission — more at leave
1.
a. : a leave of absence granted to a governmental or institutional employee (as a soldier, civil servant, or missionary)
b. : a document authorizing such a leave of absence
2.
a. : a leave of absence granted by an employer to an employee ; especially : a leave of absence granted at the employee's request
b. : a temporary lack of employment due to economic conditions : layoff
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to grant a leave of absence to
it is doubtful that the army will cooperate in extending deferments or in furloughing skilled workers — Atlantic
2. : to subject to an enforced leave of absence : lay off
the railroad recently announced it would furlough more than 2250 employees for five days 107 because of a continued decline in business — Wall Street Journal
intransitive verb
: to spend a furlough
throngs of furloughing service people and chippies on … Broadway and Times Square — R.A.Gunnison