furlough

The definition of a furlough is a period of time off.

(noun)

An example of a furlough is an absence from work to tend to personal matters.

Furlough is defined as to give someone time off, or to lay someone off temporarily.

(verb)

An example of furlough is for an employer to lay off a worker for a few months.

See furlough in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a leave of absence; esp., a leave granted to military enlisted personnel for a specified period

Origin: earlier furloff < Du verlof, modeled on Ger verlaub < MHG verlouben, to permit < ver-, for- + loube, permission, akin to leave

transitive verb

See furlough in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A leave of absence or vacation, especially one granted to a member of the armed forces.
b. A usually temporary layoff from work.
c. A leave of absence from prison granted to a prisoner.
The papers or documents authorizing a leave: The soldiers had their furloughs in their breast pockets.

transitive verb fur·loughed, fur·lough·ing, fur·loughs