furlough

Meaning

Noun

1. A leave of absence or vacation.
2. A leave of absence or vacation.
3. The documents authorizing such leave.
4. A period of unpaid time off, used by an employer to reduce costs.

Verb

1. To grant a furlough to (someone).
2. To have (an employee) not work in order to reduce costs; to send (someone) on furlough.

Hyphenated as

fur‧lough

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfɜː(ɹ).ləʊ/

Etymology

From Dutch verlof (“furlough”), probably from Middle Low German verlōf (“furlough, permission”) (possibly via German Verlaub), from the verb verlōven (“to allow”), from Old Saxon far- + levian (“to give over, leave”).
From Middle Low German also German Verlaub, Danish forlov. Doublet of leave.