the.com/furry
proof that imagination, given a tail, will absolutely build a billion-dollar economy around itself
means Covered in or resembling fur, soft and hairy; in modern subculture slang, a person who's part of the fandom built around anthropomorphic animal characters.
from From 'fur' plus the adjective ending '-y,' the same pattern that turns 'fuzz' into 'fuzzy' and 'hair' into 'hairy.' 'Fur' itself comes through Middle English 'furre' from Old French 'forrer' (to line or sheathe, especially with animal pelt), rooted in a Germanic word for a covering or case — a cousin of the sense in 'furnish.' For most of its life it simply meant 'hairy.' The fandom meaning is a much later twist, emerging from science-fiction and comics circles in the late 20th century, where fans of anthropomorphic animal art adopted 'furry' as their flag.
- big money
- Fan conventions raise millions for animal charities yearly
- oldest roots
- Anthropomorphic animals predate humans writing them down
- fursuit cost
- Custom suits routinely run thousands of dollars
- art engine
- Commissions fuel a massive freelance artist economy
- science nod
- Researchers have published peer-reviewed studies on the fandom
anthrocon — largest furry convention in the world, held annually in pittsburgh with 10,000+ attendees
fursuit — custom animal costumes worn by furries, with some costing $3,000-$5,000 to commission
rainfurrest — major furry convention in seattle that was cancelled in 2015 after booking disputes