ferret

Definitions

1. 1.An animal of the Weasel family (Mustela or Putorius furo), about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white color, with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been domesticated in Europe. Ferrets are used to drive rabbits and rats out of their holes.
2. 2.To drive or hunt out of a lurking place, as a ferret does the cony; to search out by patient and sagacious efforts; -- often used with out; as, to ferret out a secret. Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. Shak.
3. 3.A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; -- called also ferreting.
4. 4.The iron used for trying the melted glass to see if is fit to work, and for shaping the rings at the mouths of bottles.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "ferret" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is ferret.

• What is a kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; -- called also ferreting called?
• What is the iron used for trying the melted glass to see if is fit to work, and for shaping the rings at the mouths of bottles called?