The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
FERRETING
Verb
ferreting
present participle of ferret
Noun
ferreting (countable and uncountable, plural ferretings)
Hunting with ferrets.
ferret (tape used to tie documents)
Source: Wiktionary
FERRET
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
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
2 May 2025
MINESHAFT
(noun) excavation consisting of a vertical or sloping passageway for finding or mining ore or for ventilating a mine
Coffee Trivia