▪ I. ferreting, vbl. n.
(ˈfɛrɪtɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb in various senses. a. The action of taking rabbits, etc. with a ferret. b. The action or process of searching minutely.
| 1576 Turberv. Venerie 180, I accoumpte ferrettyng one of the coldest..chases that can be followed. 1673 News from Channel in Ansted Channel Isl. i. iv. (1862) 89 Whither we commonly go a ferreting. 1859 Helps Friends in C. Ser. ii. I. v. 201 Notwithstanding all the ferreting that has gone on, we know..little of Shakespeare's life. 1879 Jefferies Wild Life in S. Co. 136 The guns are laid aside, though some ferreting is still going on. |
▪ II. ferreting, n.
(ˈfɛrɪtɪŋ)
[f. ferret n.2 + -ing1.]
= ferret n.2
| 1670 Overseer's Acc. Holy Cross, Canterb., Tape and Fereting for Bullocks girle. a 1754 S. Gale in Bibl. Topog. Brit. III. 21 Waistcoats..edged and trimmed with black ribbands or ferreting. 1845 A. M. Hall Whiteboy iv. 27 A..straw hat, with a piece of black coarse ferretting dangling from it. |