Ferret
/ˈfɛrɪt/noun
A small, slender domesticated mammal of the weasel family, used for hunting rabbits and rodents.
Did you know?The word is tied to Latin *fur* “thief,” so the ferret’s name is historically linked to sneaking, stealing, and covert movement rather than fluffiness.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
furittus
“A late Latin form probably meaning a little thief or thief-like animal”
Old French
Old French
ferret
“A ferret; the small hunting animal”
Middle English
English
ferret
“The domesticated polecat used in hunting”
Modern English
English
ferret
“A small, slender carnivorous mammal, often kept as a pet or used in hunting”