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| Date: | 1600-1700 |
| Language: | Dutch |
| Origin: | verlof 'permission' |
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fur‧lough
[uncountable and countable]
[uncountable and countable]1 a period of time when a soldier or someone working in another country can return to their own country [= leave]:
2 American English a period of time when workers are told not to work, especially because there is not enough money to pay them [↪ layoff]: 
workers forced to take a long, unpaid furlough
workers forced to take a long, unpaid furlough3 American English a short period of time during which a prisoner is allowed to leave prison before returning : Morton stabbed the man while on furlough.
Morton stabbed the man while on furlough. —furlough verb [transitive] American English 280,000 federal workers have been furloughed.
280,000 federal workers have been furloughed.
