Ferrarese
(Fer`ra*rese") a. Pertaining to Ferrara, in Italy. — n., sing. & pl. A citizen of Ferrara; collectively,
the inhabitants of Ferrara.
Ferrary
(Fer"ra*ry) n. [L. ferraria iron works. See Ferreous.] The art of working in iron. [Obs.] Chapman.
Ferrate
(Fer"rate) n. [L. ferrum iron.] (Chem.) A salt of ferric acid.
Ferre
(Fer"re Fer"rer) a. & adv. Obs. compar. of Fer.
Ferreous
(Fer"re*ous) a. [L. ferreus, fr. ferrum iron. Cf. Farrier, Ferrous.] Partaking of, made of,
or pertaining to, iron; like iron. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Ferrest
(Fer"rest) a. & adv. Obs. superl. of Fer. Chaucer.
Ferret
(Fer"ret) n. [F. furet, cf. LL. furo; prob. fr. L. fur thief (cf. Furtive); cf. Arm. fur wise, sly.] (Zoöl.)
An animal of the Weasel family 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.
Ferret
(Fer"ret), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ferreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ferreting.] [Cf. F. fureter. See Ferret,
n.] 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. Ferret
(Fer"ret), n. [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.
Ferret
(Fer"ret), n. [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.