furlough Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a temporary leave of absence from military duty
  2. verb dismiss, usually for economic reasons
    lay off.
    • She was laid off together with hundreds of other workers when the company downsized
  3. verb grant a leave to
    • The prisoner was furloughed for the weekend to visit her children

WordNet

Fur"lough noun
Etymology
Prob. fr. D. verlof, fr. a prefix akin to E. for + the root of E. lief, and akin to Dan. forlov, Sw. förlof, G. verlaub permission. See Life, a.
Definitions
  1. (Mil.) Leave of abserice; especially, leave given to an offcer or soldier to be absent from service for a certain time; also, the document granting leave of absence.
Fur"lough transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Furloughed ; present participle & verbal noun Furloughing
Definitions
  1. (Mil.) To furnish with a furlough; to grant leave of absence to, as to an offcer or soldier.

Webster 1913