In 1884, Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, demonstrated the first working example of an espresso machine.
ferret
(noun) domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for hunting rats and rabbits
ferret
(verb) hunt with ferrets
ferret
(verb) hound or harry relentlessly
Source: WordNet® 3.1
ferret (plural ferrets)
An often domesticated mammal (Mustela putorius furo) rather like a weasel, descended from the polecat and often trained to hunt burrowing animals.
The black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes.
(figurative) A diligent searcher.
ferret (third-person singular simple present ferrets, present participle ferreting, simple past and past participle ferreted)
To hunt game with ferrets.
(by extension, ambitransitive) To uncover and bring to light by searching; usually to ferret out.
ferret
(dated) A tape of silk, cotton, or ribbon, used to tie documents, clothing, etc. or along the edge of fabric.
• refret
Source: Wiktionary
Fer"ret, n. Etym: [F. furet, cf. LL. furo; prob. fr. L. fur thief (cf. Furtive); cf. Arm. fur wise, sly.] (Zoöl.)
Definition: An animal of the Weasel family (Mustela or Putorius furo), 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.
Fer"ret, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ferreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ferreting.] Etym: [Cf. F. fureter. See Ferret, n.]
Definition: 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.
Fer"ret, n. Etym: [Ital. foretto, dim. of fiore flower; or F. fleuret. Cf. Floret.]
Definition: A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; -- called also ferreting.
Fer"ret, n. Etym: [F. feret, dim. or fer iron, L. ferrum.] (Glass Making)
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
21 June 2025
(noun) the condition of being deprived of oxygen (as by having breathing stopped); “asphyxiation is sometimes used as a form of torture”
In 1884, Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, demonstrated the first working example of an espresso machine.