furlough

Meaning

Noun

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

Verb

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

Synonyms

leave

leave of absence

vacation

holiday

lay off

temporary layoff

time off

day off

give a leave of absence

licence

pass

passport

permit

Translations

verlof

permission

Urlaub

congé

vrijaf

licenza

licença

mandare in licenza

permesso

مأذوني

Ferien

Beurlaubung

άδεια απουσίας

اجاز

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfɜː(ɹ).ləʊ/

Etymology

Cognate with German: Verlaub

Cognate with Danish: forlov

In summary

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.