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, furring 

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

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. 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

1. furlong

Other Word Forms

• furless 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.

see make the dust (fur) fly.

Example Sentences

Until the 1980s people roamed the mountains of Shennongjia in central China hunting monkeys for their meat and fur.

From BBC

Lil Nas X also posted a selfie on Tuesday of himself wearing a fur coat, bright red lipstick, and both a cowboy hat and crown.

From Los Angeles Times

Keeping dogs and other furry animals like cats well-groomed prevents the build-up of matted fur, which can make it harder for them to stay cool.

From BBC

"When keeping carnivores, it is necessary to provide them with meat, preferably with fur, bones etc to give them as natural a diet as possible," she explained.

From BBC

Alongside the tools, a significant amount of blood and fur were found.

From BBC

Related Words

• coat 
• jacket 
• pelt 
• skin 
• wool