I. fer‧ret¹ /ˈferət, ˈferɪt/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: furet, from Latin fur 'thief']
a small animal with a pointed nose, used to hunt rats and rabbits

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. ferret² verb [intransitive]

1. [always + adverb/preposition] informal to search for something that is lost or hidden among a lot of things or inside a drawer, box etc
ferret around/round/about
He started ferreting around in his desk.
ferret for
She ferreted in her bag for a pen.

2. to hunt rats and rabbits using a ferret
ferret somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb

1. to succeed in finding something such as a piece of information, that is difficult to find:
It’s been difficult for reporters to ferret out the facts in this case.
Uncle Vernon ferreted out the laundry box from under the stairs.

2. American English to find and usually get rid of someone who is causing a problem:
The new program is meant to ferret out problem cops.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲