black-footed ferret

n. A nocturnal North American weasel (Mustela nigripes) having yellow and brown fur with a black mask and feet.

fer•ret¹

(ˈfɛr ɪt)

n. 1. a domesticated variety of the polecat, used esp. in Europe for driving small mammals from their burrows. 2. Also called black-footed ferret. a North American prairie weasel, Mustela nigripes, with a black mask and black feet. v.t. 3. to drive out by or as if by using a ferret (often fol. by out): to ferret rabbits from their burrows; to ferret out enemies. 4. to hunt with ferrets. 5. to hunt over with ferrets: to ferret a field. 6. to search out; bring to light (often fol. by out): to ferret out the facts. 7. to harry or worry; torment. v.i. 8. to search about. 9. to hunt with ferrets. [1350–1400; Middle English fer(r)et(te), fyret, furet < Middle French furet < Vulgar Latin *furittus=fūr thief (< Latin) + -ittus -et] fer′ret•er, n. fer′ret•y, adj.

fer•ret²

(ˈfɛr ɪt)

n. a narrow tape or ribbon, as of silk or cotton, used for trimming, etc. Also called fer′ret•ing. [1570–80; alter. of Italian fioretto floss silk, literally, little flower =fior(e) (< Latin flōrem; see flower)]

Thesaurus

Noun

black-footed ferret - musteline mammal of prairie regions of United States; nearly extinctferret, Mustela nigripesmustelid, musteline, musteline mammal - fissiped fur-bearing carnivorous mammalsgenus Mustela, Mustela - type genus of the family Mustelidae: minks and weasels

black-footed ferret