Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Furlough \Fur"lough\, n. [Prob. fr. D. verlof, fr. a prefix akin
   to E. for + the root of E. lief, and akin to Dan. forlov, Sw.
   f["o]rlof, G. verlaub permission. See {Life}, a.] (Mil.)
   Leave of abserice; especially, leave given to an offcer or
   soldier to be absent from service for a certain time; also,
   the document granting leave of absence.

Furlough \Fur"lough\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Furloughed}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Furloughing}.] (Mil.)
   To furnish with a furlough; to grant leave of absence to, as
   to an offcer or soldier.

Source : WordNet®

furlough
     n : a temporary leave of absence from military duty
     v 1: dismiss, usually for economic reasons; "She was laid off
          together with hundreds of other workers when the company
          downsized" [syn: {lay off}]
     2: grant a leave to; "The prisoner was furloughed for the
        weekend to visit her children"