fur·lough / ˈfərlō/ • n. leave of absence, esp. that granted to a member of the armed services: a civil servant home on furlough | a six-week furlough in Australia. ∎  a temporary release of a convict from prison: a system that allowed murderers to leave prison for weekend furloughs. ∎  a layoff, esp. a temporary one, from a place of employment.• v. [tr.] grant such leave of absence to. ∎  lay off (workers), esp. temporarily: President Reagan furloughed “nonessential” employees | [as adj.] (furloughed) factories are apt to recall some furloughed workers.

furlough XVII (vorloffe, fore-loofe, furlogh). — Du. verlof, modelled on G. verlaub, f. ver- FOR-1 + *laub- LEAVE1.