Is Furlough An Old Word?

Is Furlough An Old Word? Originally an importation from Dutch, and spelled “vorloffe” or “fore-loofe” in the 17th century, “furlough” derives from the German military term for a soldier’s permit to be absent from duty: literally, “for leave”. Where did word furlough come from? A furlough (/ˈfɜːrloʊ/; from Dutch: verlof, “leave of absence“) is a