Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

Ferret \Fer"ret\, n. [F. furet, cf. LL. furo; prob. fr. L. fur
   thief (cf. {Furtive}); cf. Arm. fur wise, sly.] (Zo["o]l.)
   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.

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.

Source : WordNet®

ferret
     n 1: ferret of prairie regions of United States; nearly extinct
          [syn: {black-footed ferret}, {Mustela nigripes}]
     2: domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for
        hunting rats and rabbits

ferret
     v 1: hound or harry relentlessly
     2: hunt with ferrets
     3: search and discover through persistent investigation; "She
        ferreted out the truth" [syn: {ferret out}]