:
Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive), Verb (intransitive)
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Ferret, n. & v.
--n.
1 a small half-domesticated polecat, Mustela putorius furo, used in catching rabbits, rats, etc.
2 a person who searches assiduously.
--v.
1 intr. hunt with ferrets.
2 intr. rummage; search about.
3 tr. (often foll. by about, away, out, etc.) a clear out (holes or an area of ground) with ferrets. b take or drive away (rabbits etc.) with ferrets.
4 tr. (foll. by out) search out (secrets, criminals, etc.).
ferreter n. ferrety adj.
ME f. OF fu(i)ret alt. f. fu(i)ron f. LL furo -onis f. L fur thief
THESAURUS
Ferret
Argus, Cape polecat, ape, bar, bear, cat, cavy, chimp, chimpanzee, coon, eagle, foumart, glutton, groundhog, guinea pig, hawk, hedgehog, lynx, monk, monkey, mousehound, opossum, polecat, porcupine, possum, prairie dog, quill pig, raccoon, skunk, weasel, whistle-pig, wolverine, woodchuck, zoril