furlough

Meanings

Noun

• A leave of absence or vacation.
• The documents authorizing such leave.
• A period of unpaid time off, used by an employer to reduce costs.

Verb

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

Origin

• From Dutch verlof, probably from Middle Low German verlōf, from the verb verlōven. From Middle Low German also German Verlaub, Danish forlov.