General
furphy
What does furphy mean?
An improbable or untrue rumour; a piece of misinformation.
"That's just a furphy, don't believe it."
Origin
From Furphy & Sons water carts in WWI, around which soldiers swapped gossip.
Frequently asked questions
What does furphy mean?
A furphy is a rumour or a false story, a piece of misinformation people pass around.
Where does the word furphy come from?
It comes from the Furphy & Sons water carts of World War I, around which soldiers gathered and swapped gossip.
How do you use furphy in a sentence?
For example: 'The story about the factory closing turned out to be a complete furphy.'
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