Forms: 7 vorloffe, fore-loofe, forloff, furloff, -ogh, 7, 9 furlo, 8 furloe, foreloff, 7–9 furlow, 7– furlough. [a. Du. verlof, app. formed in imitation of Ger. verlaub, f. ver- FOR- pref.1 + root laub-: see BELIEVE v., LEAVE sb. Cf. Da. forlov, Sw. förlof. The Eng. word, having from the beginning been stressed on the first syll., seems to show influence of the synonymous Du. oorlof, = Ger. urlaub (OHG., MHG. urloup), abstract noun corresp. to the OTeut. vb. *izlauðôjan, -lauðjan to give leave, allow (Goth. uslaubjan, OHG. virloubôn, mod.G. erlauben, OE. ālíefan): see A- pref.1 and LEAVE sb.]
1. Leave of absence, esp. a permit or licence given to a soldier (or more rarely, an official) to be absent from duty for a stated time.
1625. B. Jonson, The Staple of Newes, V. i.
| P Iv. Where is the deed? hast thou it with thee? Pic. No, | |
| It is a thing of greater consequence, | |
| Then to be borne about in a blacke boxe, | |
| Like a Low-countrey vorloffe, or Welsh-briefe. |
1637. R. Monro, Exped., I. 34. The Lievetenant Colonell taking a fore-loofe, did go unto Holland.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., clxxxii.
| For a Cheiftane’s words | |
| Well-order’d, musters Minds willingly, where | |
| Before they’d feigned Furloghs, of Sloth, or Feare. |
1707. Farquhar, Recruiting Officer, I. i. Enter him a grenadier … absent on furlow.
1749. MS. Desp., 14 Nov., Bd. of Trade, S. Carolina, T. 68. In Charlestown living on the license of your Excellency’s third foreloff.
1772. Ann. Reg., 198/1. Maclauchlan … was sent off upon a furlow for three months.
1804. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp., III. 41. Officers not on furlough … are to join their corps without delay.
1835. Marryat, Jac. Faithf., xxxvi. My uncle James came home on furlough, for he held a very high and lucrative situation under the Company.
1893. Forbes-Mitchell, Remin. Gt. Mutiny, 71. Over fifty men … were found to have furloughs, or leave-certificates … in their pockets.
attrib. 1845. Stocqueler, Handbk. Brit. India (1854), 49. The salaries are large, varying from 500l. to 10,000l. per annum; and the furlough allowance and retiring annuity handsome and all-sufficient.
1876. Voyle’s Milit. Dict. (ed. 3), s.v. Furlough, The furlough pay is as follows.
fig. 1816–7. Coleridge, Lay Serm., 378. One of those short furloughs from the service of the body, which the soul may sometimes obtain even in this, its militant state.
b. extended to general use.
1763. Cowper, Lett., 9 Aug. Wks. (1876), 5. My destination is settled at last, and I have obtained a furlough.
1793. Mad. D’Arblay, Lett., 22 Feb. You … could not refuse to her request the week’s furlough.
1843. Lefevre, Life Trav. Phys., I. I. vii. 158. I … demanded a furlough of a fortnight, to enable me to see my friends in England.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., I. i.
| There goes our pet nun; | |
| Would but her saintship leave her gold behind, | |
| We’d give herself her furlough. |
† 2. A passport; a licence, or permit.
a. 1659. Cleveland, Wks. (1687), 7. The greatest Honours on the aged hurl’d Are but gay Furlows for another World.
1826. Scott, Woodst., ii. Or what else will your uncle Everard do for us? Get us a furlough to beg?
