ferret

noun

1. An often domesticated mammal (Mustela putorius furo) rather like a weasel, descended from the European polecat and often trained to hunt burrowing animals.
2. A black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes).
3. (figuratively)A diligent searcher.

   “The most challenging documentary discoveries were made by a tenacious archival ferret, Dr Antonio Bertoletti. In 1879 he published his findings in a slim, refreshingly dry volume, Francesco Cenci e la sua Famiglia.”

4. (dated)A tape of silk, cotton, or ribbon, used to tie documents, clothing, etc. or along the edge of fabric.

   “red tape and green ferret”

verb

1. To hunt game with ferrets.
2. (ambitransitive, broadly)To uncover and bring to light by searching; usually to ferret out.

   “Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him.”

   “I confess that we were so unpopular with the outrageous mob, that I only got away from England at the risk of being ducked to death, and that Cly was so ferreted up and down, that he never would have got away at all but for that sham.”

   “He had been piqued by the failure of all his endeavors to ferret out the assassins.”

   “She ferreted in her bag; then held it up mouth downwards; then fumbled in her lap, all so vigorously that Charles Steele in the Panama hat suspended his paint-brush.”