fur

¹

[ fur ]

noun

1. the fine, soft, thick, hairy coat of the skin of a mammal.
2. the skin of certain animals, as the sable, ermine, or beaver, covered with such a coat, used for lining, trimming, or making garments.
3. a garment made of fur.
4. any coating resembling or suggesting fur, as certain matter on the tongue.
5. Heraldry. any conventional representation of a fur, as ermine, vair, potent, or their variations.

adjective

1. of or relating to fur, animal skins, dressed pelts, etc.:

   a fur coat;

   a fur trader.

verb (used with object)

, furred, fur·ring.

1. to line, face, or trim, with fur, as a garment.
2. Building Trades. to apply furring to (a wall, ceiling, etc.).
3. to clothe (a person) with fur.
4. to coat with foul or deposited matter.

fur.

²

abbreviation for

1. furlong; furlongs.

fur

¹

/ fɜː /

noun

1. the dense coat of fine silky hairs on such mammals as the cat, seal, and mink
2. 1. the dressed skin of certain fur-bearing animals, with the hair left on
   2. ( as modifier )

      a fur coat

3. a garment made of fur, such as a coat or stole
4. 1. a pile fabric made in imitation of animal fur
   2. a garment made from such a fabric
5. heraldry any of various stylized representations of animal pelts or their tinctures, esp ermine or vair, used in coats of arms
6. informal.
   a whitish coating of cellular debris on the tongue, caused by excessive smoking, an upset stomach, etc
7. a whitish-grey deposit consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate precipitated from hard water onto the insides of pipes, boilers, and kettles
8. make the fur fly
   to cause a scene or disturbance

verb

1. tr to line or trim a garment, etc, with fur
2. often foll by up to cover or become covered with a furlike lining or deposit
3. tr to clothe (a person) in a fur garment or garments

fur.

²

abbreviation for

1. furlong

Derived Forms

• ˈfurless, adjective

Other Words From

• furless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fur¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English furre (noun), derivative of furren “to trim with fur,” from Anglo-French furrer, Old French fo(u)rrer, originally “to encase,” derivative of fuerre “sheath,” from Germanic; akin to Old English fōdder “case, sheath,” Old Norse fōthr, Greek pṓma

Word History and Origins

Origin of fur¹

C14: from Old French forrer to line a garment, from fuerre sheath, of Germanic origin; related to Old English fōdder case, Old Frisian fōder coat lining

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make the fur fly,
   1. to cause a scene or disturbance, especially of a violent nature; make trouble:

      When the kids got mad they really made the fur fly.

   2. to do things quickly:

      He sure makes the fur fly when it’s his turn to do the housecleaning.

More idioms and phrases containing fur

see make the dust (fur) fly .

Example Sentences

The daughter of a disgraced house, Valya isn’t content to accept her family’s banishment to a life peddling whale fur and blubber.

From Salon

Another interpretation is that Native American tribes would set beaver traps before the swamps froze, ensuring a supply of warm winter furs.

From BBC

“We want to celebrate our country and all the people in it,” says Karen Clark, with her little boys Benjamin and Harrison who were both wearing crowns and capes with a fake fur trim.

From BBC

They shouted "stop the torture, stop the pain", in reference to the use of animal skins and fur by fashion house Louis Vuitton, where Williams serves as men's creative director.

From BBC

“If I’m ever so lucky to be in a romantic relationship again, it’ll be because of him,” she said of her fur baby.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• coat
• jacket
• pelt
• skin
• wool