/ferr"loh/ , n.
1. Mil. a vacation or leave of absence granted to an enlisted person.
2. a usually temporary layoff from work: Many plant workers have been forced to go on furlough.
3. a temporary leave of absence authorized for a prisoner from a penitentiary.
v.t.
4. to grant a furlough to.
5. to lay (an employee or worker) off from work, usually temporarily.
[ 1615-25; var. of earlier furlogh, furloff verlof leave, permission; current pronunciation by assoc. with DOUGH, etc. ]