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Webster 1913 Edition

Ferret

Fer′ret

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Ferreted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Ferreting
.]
[Cf. F.
fureter
. See
Ferret
,
Noun.
]
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.
Shakespeare

Fer′ret

,
Noun.
[Ital.
foretto
, dim. of
fiore
flower; or F.
fleuret
. Cf.
Floret
.]
A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; – called also
ferreting
.

Fer′ret

,
Noun.
[F.
feret
, dim. or
fer
iron, L.
ferrum
.]
(Glass Making)
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Ferret

FER'RET

,
Noun.
1.
An animal of the genus Mustela, or Weasel kind, about 14 inches in length, of a pale yellow color with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been introduced into Europe. It cannot however bear cold, and cannot subsist even in France, except in a domestic state. Ferrets are used to catch rabbits.
2.
A kind of narrow woolen tape.
3.
Among glass makers, the iron used to try the melted matter, to see if it is fit to work, and to make the rings at the mouths of bottles.

FER'RET

,
Verb.
T.
To drive out of a lurking place, as a ferret does the coney.

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