Etymology

From Old Portuguese foron, from Late Latin fūrō, fūrōnis ‎(“thief”), from Classical Latin fūr ‎(“thief”), from Proto-Italic *fōr ‎(“thief”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰōr ‎(“thief”), which is derived from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- ‎(“to carry”).

Cognate with Galician furón, Spanish hurón, Catalan fura, Occitan fura, French furet, English ferret and Italian furetto.