Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Femur Flat

Femur, fē′mer, n. the thigh-bone.—adj. , belonging to the thigh.—Femoral artery, the main artery of the thigh. [L. femoralis—femur, thigh.]

Fen, fen, n. a kind of low marshy land often, or partially, covered with water: a morass or bog.—ns. ', the cranberry; ', the Will-o'-the-wisp.—adjs. ', ';  (Shak.), drawn out of bogs. [A.S. fenn; Ice. fen.]

Fen, fen, v.t. an exclamatory phrase in boys' games, meaning 'Check!' 'Bar!' [Cf. Fend.]

Fence, fens, n. a wall or hedge for enclosing animals or for protecting land: the art of fencing: defence: a receiver of stolen goods, also a receiving-house.—v.t. to enclose with a fence: to fortify.—v.i. to practise fencing: to conceal the truth by equivocal answers.—adjs. Fenced, enclosed with a fence; ', without fence or enclosure, open.—n. ', one who practises fencing with a sword.—adj. ', capable of being fenced or defended.—n.pl. ', volunteer regiments raised for local defence during a special crisis: militia enlisted for home service.—p.adj. ', defending or guarding.—n. the act of erecting a fence: the art of attack and defence with a sword or other weapon.—n. ', one who teaches fencing.—Fence the tables, in the ancient usage of Scotland, to debar from partaking in communion those guilty of any known sin.—Sit on the fence, to be still hesitating as between two opinions; Sunk fence, a ditch or water-course. [Abbrev. of defence.]

Fend, fend, v.t. to ward off: to shut out: to defend.—v.i. to offer resistance: to make provision for.—n. self-support, the shift one makes for one's self.—adj. , shifty. [Abbrev. of defend.]

Fender, fend′ėr, n. a metal guard before a fire to confine the ashes: a protection for a ship's side against piers, &c., consisting of a bundle of rope, &c.—ns. ', a fender of wood, protecting a ship's side in dock: a permanent buffer at the end of a railway siding; ', a board protecting the steps of a carriage from the dust thrown up by the wheels. [Fend.]

Fenestella, fen-es-tel′a, n. a niche on the south side of an altar, containing the piscina, and sometimes the credence: a genus of Polyzoa, like the recent 'lace coral,' very common in Palæozoic rocks. [L., dim. of fenestra, a window.]

Fenestral, fe-nes′tral, adj. belonging to or like a window: with transparent spots—also '.—n. ', the arrangement of windows in a building. [L. fenestralis—fenestra, window.]

Fengite, fen′jīt, n. a transparent alabaster for window panes.

Fenian, fē′ne-an, n. a member of an association of Irishmen founded in New York in 1857 for the overthrow of the English government in Ireland.—adj. belonging to the legendary Fenians, or to the modern conspirators.—n. . [Old Ir. Féne, one of the names of the ancient population of Ireland, confused in modern times with fíann, the militia of Finn and other ancient Irish kings.]

Fenks, fengks, n. the refuse of whale-blubber.—Also Finks.

Fennec, fen′ek, n. a little African fox with large ears. [Moorish.]

Fennel, fen′el, n. a genus of umbelliferous plants, allied to Dill, but distinguished by the cylindrical, strongly-ribbed fruit, the flower yellow.—n. , the Nigella Damascena, or ragged lady. [A.S. finul—L. fœniculum, fennel—fenum, hay.]

Fent, fent, n. (prov.) a slit, crack: a remnant or odd piece. [O. Fr. fente—L. findĕre, to cleave.]

Fenugreek, fen′ū-grēk, n. a genus of leguminous plants, allied to clover and melilot. [L. fenum-græcum, 'Greek hay.']

Feod, Feodal, Feodary. Same as Feud, Feudal, Feudary.

Feoff, fef, n. a fief.—v.t. to grant possession of a fief or property in land.—ns. ', the person invested with the fief; ', ', he who grants the fief; ', the gift of a fief or feoff. [O. Fr. feoffer or fiefer—O. Fr. fief. See Fee.]

Feracious, fe-rā′shus, adj. fruitful.—n.  (rare). [L. ferax, -acis—ferre, to bear.]

Fer-de-lance, fār′de-längs′, n. the lance-headed or yellow viper of tropical America.

Fere, fēr, n. (Spens.) a mate, companion, equal. [A.S. geféra, a companion, ge-féran, to travel.]

Feretory, fer′e-tor-i, n. a shrine for relics carried in processions. [L. feretrum—ferre, to bear.]

Ferial, fē′ri-al, adj. pertaining to holidays (feriæ), belonging to any day of the week which is neither a fast nor a festival. [Fr.,—L. feria, a holiday.]

Ferine, fē′rin, adj. pertaining to, or like, a wild beast: savage.—n.pl. Feræ wild animals.—adj. ', wild, run wild.—n. ', wildness.—Fēræ naturæ, those animals that are wild or not domesticated, including game animals—deer, hares, pheasants, &c. [L. ferinus—fera, a wild beast—ferus; akin to Gr. thēr, Ger. thier, a beast.]

Feringhee, fer-ing′gē, n. a Hindu name for an Englishman.—Also . [A corr. of Frank.]

Ferly, fer′li, adj. fearful: sudden: singular.—n. a wonder.—v.i. to wonder. [A.S. fǽrlic, sudden; cf. Ger. ge-fährlich, dangerous.]

Ferm, fėrm, n. a farm: (Spens.) abode, lodging.

Fermata, fer-mä′ta, n. (mus.) a pause or break. [It.]

Ferment, fėr′ment, n. what excites fermentation, as yeast, leaven: internal motion amongst the parts of a fluid: agitation: tumult.—v.t. ', to excite fermentation: to inflame.—v.i. to rise and swell by the action of fermentation: to work, used of wine, &c.: to be in excited action: to be stirred with anger.—n. '.—adj. ', capable of fermentation.—n. ', the act or process of fermenting: the change which takes place in liquids exposed to air: the kind of spontaneous decomposition which produces alcohol: restless action of the mind or feelings.—adj. ', causing or consisting in fermentation.—n. '.—adj. , capable of being fermented. [Fr.,—L. fermentum, for fervimentum—fervēre, to boil.]

Fermeture, fer′me-tūr, n. a mechanism for closing the chamber of a breech-loading gun. [Fr.,—L. firmāre, to make fast.]

Fern, fern, n. one of the beautiful class of higher or vascular cryptogamous plants—the natural order Filices.—ns. ', a place for rearing ferns; ', the European goatsucker or night-jar; ', the spores of ferns, which, properly gathered, render the bearers invisible; ', a thicket of ferns; ', a freckle.—adjs. '; . [A.S. fearn; Ger. farn.]

Ferocious, fe-rō′shus, adj. savage, fierce: cruel.—adv. '.—ns. '; , savage cruelty of disposition: untamed fierceness. [L. ferox, ferocis, wild—ferus, wild.]

Ferrandine, fer′an-din, n. a silk and wool or silk and hair cloth.—Also . [Fr.]

Ferrara, fer-ä′ra, n. a make of sword-blade highly esteemed in Scotland from about the close of the 16th century—often Andrea Ferrara—said to have been made at Belluno in Venetia by Cosmo, Andrea, and Gianantonio Ferrara. [Perh. a native of Ferrara, or prob. merely the It. ferrajo, a cutler—L. ferrarius, a smith.]

Ferreous, fer′e-us, adj. pertaining to, or made of, iron. [L. ferreus—ferrum, iron.]

Ferret, fer′et, n. ribbon woven from spun silk. [Corr. from It. fioretto—L. flos, floris, a flower.]

Ferret, fer′et, n. a half-tamed albino variety of the polecat, employed in unearthing rabbits.—v.t. to drive out of a hiding-place: to search out cunningly:—pr.p. pa.p. —n. , one who uses a ferret to catch rabbits, &c.: one who searches minutely. [O. Fr. furet, a ferret—Low L. furon-em, robber—L. fur, a thief.]

Ferriage, fer′ri-āj, n. See Ferry.

Ferric, fer′ik, adj. pertaining to or obtained from iron: noting an acid compounded of iron and oxygen.—ns. ', a salt formed by the union of ferric acid with a base; Ferrocyanogen a compound radical supposed by chemists to exist in ferrocyanic acid and the ferrocyanides, the chief of which is potassium ferrocyanide, yielding Prussian blue; ', a photographic process in which the negative was developed by a saturated solution of protosulphate of iron. [L. ferrum, iron.]

Ferriferous, fer-rif′ėr-us, adj. bearing or yielding iron. [L. ferrum, iron, ferre, to bear.]

Ferruginous, fer-rōō′jin-us, adj. of the colour of iron-rust impregnated with iron.—n. , a disease of plants, commonly called rust. [L. ferrugineus—ferrugo, -inem, iron-rust—ferrum, iron.]

Ferrule, fer′il, or fer′ōōl, n. a metal ring or cap on a staff, &c., to keep it from splitting.—Also . [O. Fr. virole—L. viriola, a bracelet.]

Ferry, fer′i, v.t. to carry or convey over a water in a boat:—pr.p. pa.p. —n. a place where one is carried by boat across a water: the right of conveying passengers: the ferry-boat.—ns. ', provision for ferrying: the fare paid for such; '; . [A.S. ferian, to convey, faran, to go; Ger. fähre, a ferry—fahren, to go, to carry.]

Fertile, fėr′til, adj. able to bear or produce abundantly: rich in resources: inventive: fertilising.—adv. '.—n. ', the act or process of fertilising.—v.t. ', to make fertile or fruitful: to enrich.—ns. ', one who, or that which, fertilises; , fruitfulness: richness: abundance. [Fr.,—L. fertilis—ferre, to bear.]

Ferule, fer′ōōl, n. a cane or rod used for striking children in punishment.—n. ', a staff of command.—adj. ', pertaining to canes or reeds. [L. ferula, a cane—ferīre, to strike.]

Fervent, fėr′vent, adj. ardent: zealous: warm in feeling.—n. ', eagerness: warmth of devotion.—adv. '.—adjs. ', growing hot; ', very hot: having burning desire or emotion: zealous.—n. '.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', heat: heat of mind, zeal. [Fr.,—L. fervēre, to boil.]

Fescennine, fes′e-nin, adj. scurrilous.—Fescennine verses consisted of dialogues in rude extempore verses, generally in Saturnian measure, in which the parties rallied and ridiculed one another. The style, afterwards popular at Rome, originated in the Etruscan town Fescennium.

Fescue, fes′kū, n. a genus of grasses, very nearly allied to Brome-grass, and including many valuable pasture and fodder grasses: a small straw or wire used to point out letters to children when learning to read. [O. Fr. festu—L. festūca, a straw.]

Fesse, Fess, fes, n. (her.) one of the ordinaries—a band over the middle of an escutcheon, one-third its breadth. [Fr. fasce—L. fascia, a band.]

Festal, fes′tal, adj. pertaining to a feast or holiday: joyous: gay.—adv. '.—n. ', a treatise on ecclesiastical festivals.

Fester, fes′tėr, v.i. to become corrupt or malignant: to suppurate.—v.t. to cause to fester or rankle.—n. a wound discharging corrupt matter. [O. Fr. festre—L. fistula, an ulcer.]

Festinate, fes′ti-nāt, v.t. to accelerate.—adj. (Shak.) hurried, hasty.—adv. ' (Shak.), hastily.—n. '. [L. festinaāre, -ātum, to hurry.]

Festive, fes′tiv, adj. festal: mirthful.—n. ', a joyful celebration: a feast.—adv. '.—n. ', social mirth: joyfulness: gaiety.—adj. ', festive. [L. festivus—festus.]

Festoon, fes-tōōn′, n. a garland suspended between two points: (archit.) an ornament like a wreath of flowers, &c.—v.t. to adorn with festoons.—n. , a window-blind of cloth gathered into rows of festoons in its width. [Fr. feston—Low L. festo(n-), a garland—L. festum.]

Fet, Fett, fet, v.t. obsolete form of fetch.

Fetal. See Fœtus.

Fetch, fech, v.t. to bring: to go and get: to obtain as its price: to accomplish in any way: to bring down, to cause to yield: to reach or attain.—v.i. to turn: (naut.) to arrive at.—n. the act of bringing: space carried over: a stratagem.—adj. , fascinating.—Fetch and carry, to perform humble services for another; Fetch a pump, to pour water in so as to make it draw; Fetch out, to draw forth, develop; Fetch to, to revive, as from a swoon; Fetch up, to recover: to come to a sudden stop. [A.S. feccan, an altered form of fetian, to fetch; cf. Ger. fassen, to seize.]

Fetch, fech, n. the apparition, double, or wraith of a living person.—n. , a nocturnal light, supposed to portend a death. [Ety. unknown.]

Fête, fāt, n. a festival: a holiday.—v.t. to entertain at a feast.—n. , a birthday.—Fête champêtre, an outdoor entertainment. [Fr.]

Fetial, fē′shal, adj. pertaining to the Roman fetiales, heraldic, ambassadorial.—Also .

Fetich, Fetish, fē′tish, n. an object, either natural or artificial, capable of being appropriated by an individual whose possession of it procures the services of a spirit lodged within it.—ns. ', ', the worship of a fetich: a belief in charms.—adjs. ', '. [Fr. fétiche—Port. feitiço, magic: a name given by the Portuguese to the gods of West Africa—Port. feitiço, artificial—L. factitius—facĕre, to make.]

Feticide. See Fœtus.

Fetid, fē′tid, or fet′id, adj. stinking: having a strong offensive odour.—ns. ', ', . [L. fœtidus—fœtēre, to stink.]

Fetlock, fet′lok, n. a tuft of hair that grows behind on horses' feet: the part where this hair grows.—adj. , tied by the fetlock. [History obscure; often explained as compounded of foot and lock (of hair); cf. Ger. fiszloch.]

Fetter, fet′ėr, n. a chain or shackle for the feet: anything that restrains—used chiefly in pl.—v.t. to put fetters on: to restrain.—adjs. ', bound by fetters: (zool.) of feet bent backward and apparently unfit for walking; ', without fetters, unrestrained.—n.  (her.) a shackle or lock. [A.S. feter—fét, feet, pl. of fót, foot.]

Fettle, fet′l, v.t. (prov.) to arrange, mend.—v.i. to potter fussily about.—n. preparedness, ready condition. [Prob. A.S. fetel, a belt.]

Fetus. See Fœtus.

Feu, fū, n. (Scot.) a tenure where the vassal, in place of military services, makes a return in grain or in money: a right to the use of land, houses, &c., in perpetuity, for a stipulated annual payment (').—v.t. to vest in one who undertakes to pay the feu-duty—n. ', one who holds real estate in consideration of a payment called feu-duty. [O. Fr. feu. See the variant Fee.]

Feud, fūd, n. a war waged by private individuals, families, or clans against one another on their own account: a bloody strife.—Right of feud, the right to protect one's self and one's kinsmen, and punish injuries. [O. Fr. faide, feide—Low L. faida—Old High Ger. fēhida. See Foe.]

Feud, fūd, n. a fief or land held on condition of service.—adj. ', pertaining to feuds or fiefs: belonging to feudalism.—n. '.—v.t. '.—ns. ', the system, during the Middle Ages, by which vassals held lands from lords-superior on condition of military service; '; ', the state of being feudal: the feudal system.—adv. '.—adjs. ', ', holding lands or power by a feudal tenure—also ns.—ns. ', a writer on feuds: one versed in the laws of feudal tenure. [Low L. feudum, from root of fee.]

Feuilleton, fė′lye-tong, n. the portion of a newspaper set apart for intelligence of a non-political character—criticisms on art or letters, or a serial story—usually marked off by a line.—n. , superficial qualities in literature, &c. [Fr. dim. of feuillet, a leaf—L. folium, a leaf.]

Fever, fē′vėr, n. disease marked by great bodily heat and quickening of pulse: extreme excitement of the passions, agitation: a painful degree of anxiety.—v.t. to put into a fever.—v.i. to become fevered.—adj. ', affected with fever, excited.—ns. ', a composite perennial closely allied to camomile, so called from its supposed power as a febrifuge; ', the heat of fever: an excessive degree of excitement.—adj. ', slightly fevered: indicating fever: fidgety: fickle: morbidly eager.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. , feverish: marked by sudden changes. [A.S. féfor—L. febris.]

Few, fū, adj. small in number: not many.—n. .—A few, used colloquially for 'a good bit;' A good few, a considerable number; In few=in a few (words), briefly; Some few, an inconsiderable number; The few, the minority. [A.S. féa, pl. féawe; Fr. peu; L. paucus, small.]

Fewter, fū′tėr, v.t. (Spens.) to set close, to fix in rest, as a spear. [O. Fr. feutre—feutre, felt.]

Fewtrils, fū′trilz, n.pl. (prov.) little things, trifles. [See Fattrels.]

Fey, Fay, fā, adj. doomed, fated soon to die, under the shadow of a sudden or violent death—often marked by extravagantly high spirits. [M. E. fay, fey—A.S. fǽge, doomed; cf. Dut. veeg, about to die.]

Fez, fez, n. a red brimless cap of wool or felt, fitting closely to the head, with a tassel of black or blue, worn in Turkey, Egypt, &c.—in Africa usually called tarbûsh. [From Fez in Morocco.]

Fiacre, fē-ä′kr, n. a hackney-coach. [Fr., from the Hôtel de St Fiacre in Paris, where first used.]

Fiancée, fē-ong-sā′, n. a woman betrothed:—masc. Fiancé. [Fr., fiancer, to betroth—L. fidentia, confidence, fidĕre, to trust.]

Fiars, fī′arz, n.pl. (Scot.) the prices of grain legally struck or fixed for the year at the Fiars Court, so as to regulate the payment of stipend, rent, and prices not expressly agreed upon. [Conn. with fiar, the holder of a fee (q.v.).]

Fiasco, fi-as′ko, n. a failure in a musical performance: a failure of any kind. [It. fiasco, bottle, perh. from L. vasculum, a little vessel, vas, a vessel.]

Fiat, fī′at, n. a formal or solemn command: a short order or warrant of a judge for making out or allowing processes, letters-patent, &c.—(Spens.) .—v.t. to sanction, [L. 'let it be done,' 3d pers. sing. pres. subj. of fiĕri, passive of facĕre, to do.]

Fib, fib, n. something said falsely: a mild expression for a lie.—v.i. to tell a fib or lie: to speak falsely:—pr.p. pa.p. fibbed.—ns. ', one who fibs; ' (rare), the habit of fibbing; , a fibber. [An abbrev. of fable.]

Fibre, fī′bėr, n. a conglomeration of thread-like tissue such as exists in animals or vegetables: any fine thread, or thread-like substance: material, substance.—adjs. ', having fibres; ', having no fibres; ', fibrous in form or structure.—ns. ', a small fibre; one of the extremely minute threads composing an animal fibre; ', a fibril, filament.—n.pl. '.—n. ', the process of becoming fibrillated.—adj. ', formed of small fibres.—ns. ', a proteid substance which appears in the blood after it is shed, and by its appearance gives rise to the process of coagulation or clotting; ', the process of adding fibrin to the blood.—adj. ', of or like fibrin.—n. ', a firm elastic material like fibrous tissue and cartilage.—adj. ', of a fibrous character.—ns. ', the chief chemical constituent of silk, cobwebs, and the horny skeleton of sponges; ', a tumour or growth consisting largely of fibrous matter; ', a morbid growth of fibrous matter.—adj. ', composed of fibres.—n. '. [Fr.,—L. fibra, a thread.]

Fibroline, fib′rō-lēn, n. a yarn manufactured from the waste in hemp, flax, and jute spinning works, for backs of carpets, &c.

Fibula, fib′ū-la, n. a clasp or buckle; the outer of the two bones from the knee to the ankle.—adjs. ', ', . [L.]

Fichu, fē-shü′, n. a three-cornered cape worn over the shoulders, the ends crossed upon the bosom: a triangular piece of muslin, &c., for the neck. [Fr.]

Fickle, fik′l, adj. inconstant: changeable.—n. . [A.S. ficol; gefic, fraud.]

Fico, fē′ko, n. (Shak.) a motion of contempt by placing the thumb between two fingers. [It.,—L.]

Fictile, fik′til, adj. used or fashioned by the potter, plastic. [L. fictilis—fingĕre, to form or fashion.]

Fiction, fik′shun, n. a feigned or false story: a falsehood: romance: the novel, story-telling as a branch of literature: a supposition of law that a thing is true, which is either certainly not true, or at least is as probably false as true.—adj. '.—n. ', a writer of fiction.—adj. ', imaginary: not real: forged.—adv. '.—adj. ', fictitious, imaginative.—n. ', one who makes images of clay, &c. [Fr.,—L. fiction-em—fictus, pa.p. of fingĕre.]

Fid, fid, n. a conical pin of hard wood, used by sailors to open the strands of a rope in splicing: a square bar of wood or iron, with a shoulder at one end, used to support the weight of the topmast or top-gallant-mast when swayed up into place.

Fiddle, fid′l, n. a stringed instrument of music, called also a Violin.—v.t. or v.i. to play on a fiddle: to be busy over trifles, to trifle:—pr.p. pa.p. —ns. ', a long block having two sheaves of different diameters in the same plane; ', a bow strung with horse-hair, with which the strings of the fiddle are set vibrating.—interjs. ', ' (often pl.), nonsense!—v.i. ', to trifle, to dally.—n. trifling talk.—adj. fussy, trifling.—interj. nonsense!—n. '.—adj. '.—ns. ', an ornament at a ship's bow, over the cut-water, consisting of a scroll turning aft or inward; ', one who fiddles: a small crab of genus Gelasimus; ', a string for a fiddle; ', a tropical American tree yielding valuable hard wood.—adj. ', trifling, busy about trifles.—Fiddler's green, a sailor's name for a place of frolic on shore.—Play first, or second, fiddle, to take the part of the first, or second, violin-player in an orchestra: to take a leading, or a subordinate, part in anything; Scotch fiddle, the itch. [A.S. fiðele; Ger. fiedel. See Violin.]

Fidelity, fi-del′i-ti, n. faithful performance of duty: faithfulness to a husband or wife: honesty: firm adherence. [L. fidelitat-em—fidelis, faithful—fidĕre, to trust.]

Fidget, fij′et, v.i. to be unable to rest: to move uneasily:—pr.p. pa.p. —n. irregular motion: restlessness: (pl.) general nervous restlessness, with a desire of changing the position.—v.i. Fidge, to move about restlessly: to be eager.—n. '.—adj. ', restless: uneasy. [Perh. related to fike (q.v.).]

Fiducial, fi-dū′shi-al, adj. showing confidence or reliance: of the nature of a trust.—adv. '.—adj. ', confident: unwavering: held in trust.—n. one who holds anything in trust: (theol.) one who depends for salvation on faith without works, an Antinomian. [L. fiducia, confidence, from fidĕre, to trust.]

Fie, fī, interj. denoting disapprobation or disgust. [Scand., Ice. fý, fei, fie! cf. Ger. pfui.]

Fief, fēf, n. land held of a superior in fee or on condition of military service: a feud. [Fr.,—Low L. feudum.]

Field, fēld, n. country or open country in general: a piece of ground enclosed for tillage or pasture: the range of any series of actions or energies: the locality of a battle: the battle itself: room for action of any kind: a wide expanse: (her.) the surface of a shield: the background on which figures are drawn: the part of a coin left unoccupied by the main device: those taking part in a hunt: all the entries collectively against which a single contestant has to compete: all the parties not individually excepted, as 'to bet on the field' in a horse-race.—v.t. at cricket and base-ball, to catch or stop and return to the fixed place.—v.i. to stand in positions so as to catch the ball easily in cricket.—ns. ', a small extra payment to officers on active service; ', light ordnance suited for active operations in the field; ', a camp or trestle bedstead; ', a book used in surveying fields.—n.pl. ', small flags used for marking the position for companies and regiments, also any regimental headquarters' flags.—n. ', a day when troops are drawn out for instruction in field exercises: any day of unusual bustle.—adj. ' (Shak.), encamped.—ns. ', one who fields; ', a species of thrush, having a reddish-yellow throat and breast spotted with black; ', a binocular telescope slung over the shoulder in a case; ', a light cannon mounted on a carriage; ', an outdoor farm labourer; ', a temporary hospital near the scene of battle; ', ice formed in the polar seas in large surfaces, distinguished from icebergs; ', the acting in the field at cricket as distinguished from batting; ', an officer of the highest rank in the army; ', a conventicle; ', a species of mouse that lives in the fields; ', a night marked by some important gathering, discussion, &c.; ', a military officer above the rank of captain, and below that of general; ', a cannon or piece of artillery used in the field of battle; ', one who preaches in the open air; '; ', a fielder.—n.pl. ', sports of the field, as hunting, racing, &c.—n. ', a department of the Royal Artillery responsible for the safety and supply of ammunition during war.—advs. ', ', toward the fields.—n.pl. , temporary works thrown up by troops in the field, either for protection or to cover an attack upon a stronghold.—Field of vision, the compass of visual power.—Keep the field, to keep the campaign open: to maintain one's ground. [A.S. feld; cf. Dut. veld, the open country, Ger. feld.]

Fiend, fēnd, n. the devil: one actuated by the most intense wickedness or hate.—adj. ', like a fiend; malicious.—n. '.—adj. , like a fiend: fiendish. [A.S. feónd, pr.p. of feón, to hate; Ger. feind, Dut. vijand.]

Fierce, fērs, adj. ferocious: violent: angry.—adv. '.—n. '. [O. Fr. fers (Fr. fier)—L. ferus, wild, savage.]

Fiery, fīr′i, or fī′ėr-i, adj. ardent: impetuous: irritable.—adv. '.—ns. '; ' (see Cross).—adjs. ', swift in motion; ', impetuous; ', hot from newness; , short and passionate.

Fife, fīf, n. a smaller variety of the flute, usually with only one key.—v.i. to play on the fife.—ns. ' (obs.), the chief fifer in a regiment; ', one who plays on a fife; , the rail round the mainmast for belaying-pins. [Fr. fifre, Ger. pfeife, both, acc. to Littré, from L. pipāre, to chirp.]

Fifish, fī′fish, adj. (Scot.) whimsical, cranky. [Fife.]

Fifteen, fif′tēn, adj. and n. five and ten.—adj. , the fifth after the tenth: being one of fifteen equal parts.—n. a fifteenth part.—The Fifteen, the Jacobite rising of 1715. [A.S. fíftyne—fíf, five, týn, ten.]

Fifth, fifth, adj. next after the fourth.—n. one of five equal parts: (mus.) a tone five diatonic degrees above or below any given tone.—adv. ', in the fifth place.—ns. '; .—Fifth-monarchy men, an extreme sect of the time of the Puritan revolution, who looked for the establishment of a new reign of Christ on earth, in succession to Daniel's four great monarchies of Antichrist. [A.S. fífta.]

Fifty, fif′ti, adj. and n. five tens or five times ten.—adj. , the ordinal of fifty.—n. a fiftieth part. [A.S. fíftig—fíf, five, tig, ten.]

Fig, fig, n. the fig-tree (Ficus), or its fruit, growing in warm climates: a thing of little consequence.—v.t. (Shak.) to insult by a contemptuous motion of the fingers.—ns. ', the leaf of the fig-tree: an imitation of such a leaf for veiling the private parts of a statue or picture: any scanty clothing (from Gen. iii. 7): a makeshift; ', the tree which produces figs. [Fr. figue—L. ficus, a fig.]

Fig, fig, n. (coll.) figure: dress.—v.t. to dress, get up.—n. , dressy ornament.

Figaro, fig′ar-o, n. a type of cunning and dexterity from the dramatic character, first barber and then valet-de-chambre, in the Barbier de Seville and the Mariage de Figaro, by Beaumarchais: the name adopted by a famous Paris newspaper founded 1854.

Fight, fīt, v.i. to strive with: to contend in war or in single combat.—v.t. to engage in conflict with: to gain by fight: to cause to fight:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. fought (fawt).—n. a struggle: a combat: a battle or engagement.—n. '.—adj. ', engaged in or fit for war.—n. the act of fighting or contending.—ns. ', a gamecock, a pugnacious fellow; ' (Betta pugnax), a small Siamese fresh-water fish, kept for its extraordinary readiness for fighting, bets being laid on the issue.—Fight it out, to struggle on until the end; Fight shy of, to avoid from mistrust.—Live like fighting-cocks, to get the best of meat and drink. [A.S. feohtan; Ger. fechten.]

Figment, fig′ment, n. a fabrication or invention. [L. figmentum—fingĕre, to form.]

Figuline, fig′ū-lin, adj. such as is made by the potter, fictile.—n. an earthen vessel:—pl. pottery. [L.—figulinus—figulus, potter.]

Figure, fig′ūr, n. the form of anything in outline: the representation of anything in drawing, &c.: a drawing: a design: a statue: appearance: a character denoting a number: value or price: (rhet.) a deviation from the ordinary mode of expression, in which words are changed from their literal signification or usage: (logic) the form of a syllogism with respect to the position of the middle term: steps in a dance: a type or emblem.—v.t. to form or shape: to make an image of: to mark with figures or designs: to imagine: to symbolise: to foreshow: to note by figures.—v.i. to make figures: to appear as a distinguished person.—n. ', the quality of being figurable.—adjs. '; ', represented by figure.—n. ', a ballet dancer, one of those dancers who dance in troops, and form a background for the solo dancers:—masc. '.—adj. ', of a certain determinate form: (mus.) florid.—n. ', act of giving figure or form: (mus.) mixture of chords and discords.—adj. ' (rhet.), representing by, containing, or abounding in figures: metaphorical: flowery: typical.—adv. '.—ns. ', state of being figurative; ', an astrologer; ', the art of preparing casts of animal or other forms.—adj. ', marked or adorned with figures.—ns. ', a dance consisting of elaborate figures; ', the figure or bust under the bowsprit of a ship; ', the weaving of figured fancy fabrics; ', a small carved or sculptured figure, often specially such as are adorned with painting and gilding; ', one who uses or interprets figures.—Figurate numbers, any series of numbers beginning with unity, and so formed that if each be subtracted from the following, and the series so formed be treated in the same way, by a continuation of the process, equal differences will be obtained. [Fr.,—L. figura, fingĕre, to form.]

Fike, fīk, v.i. (Scot.) to fidget restlessly.—n. restlessness: any vexatious requirement or detail in work.—n. ', fuss.—adj. '. [Prob. Ice. fíkja.]

Filaceous, fil-ā′shus, adj. composed of threads. [L. filum, a thread.]

Filacer, fil′ā-ser, n. an officer in the Court of Common Pleas who formerly filed original writs and made out processes on them.—Also . [O. Fr. filacier—filace, a file for papers—L. filum.]

Filament, fil′a-ment, n. a slender or thread-like object: a fibre: (bot.) the stalk of the stamen which supports the pollen-containing anther.—adjs. ', '; ', like a filament; ', thread-like. [Fr.,—L. filum, a thread.]

Filanders, fil-an′dėrz, n.pl. a disease in hawks caused by a small intestinal worm, the filander. [Fr. filandres—L. filum.]

Filar, fī′lar, adj. pertaining to a thread.

Filature, fil′a-tūr, n. the reeling of silk, or the place where it is done.—n. , a machine for forming or spinning threads. [Fr.,—L. filum, a thread.]

Filbert, fil′bert, n. the nut of the cultivated hazel—(obs.) . [Prob. from St Philibert, whose day fell in the nutting season, Aug. 22 (O.S.).]

Filch, filch, v.t. to steal: to pilfer.—n. ', a thief.—adv. '. [Ety. unknown.]

File, fīl, n. a line or wire on which papers are placed in order: the papers so placed: a roll or list: a line of soldiers ranged behind one another: the number of men forming the depth of a battalion.—v.t. to put upon a file: to arrange in an orderly manner: to put among the records of a court: to bring before a court.—v.i. to march in a file.—n. .—File off, to wheel off at right angles to the first direction; File with, to rank with, to be equal to.—Single file, Indian file, of men marching one behind another. [Fr. file—L. filum, a thread.]

File, fīl, n. a steel instrument with sharp-edged furrows for smoothing or rasping metals, &c.: any means adopted to polish a thing, as a literary style: a shrewd, cunning person, a deep fellow: a pickpocket.—v.t. to cut or smooth with, or as with, a file: to polish, improve.—n. ', a maker of files.—adj. Filed, polished, smooth.—ns. ', a fish of genus Balistes, the skin granulated like a file; ', one who files; ', a particle rubbed off with a file. [A.S. feól; Ger. feile; Dut. vijl.]

File, fīl, v.t. (Shak.) to defile, pollute.

Filemot, fil′e-mot, adj. of a dead-leaf colour—also n. the colour itself. [Fr. feuillemorte, a dead leaf.]

Filial, fil′yal, adj. pertaining to or becoming a son or daughter: bearing the relation of a child.—adv. . [Fr.,—Low L. filialis—L. filius, a son.]

Filiate, Filiation. Same as Affiliate, Affiliation.

Filibuster, Fillibuster, fil′i-bus-tėr, n. a lawless military or piratical adventurer, as in the West Indies: a buccaneer.—v.i. to obstruct legislation wantonly by endless speeches, motions, &c.—n. , the character or actions of a filibuster. [Sp. filibustero, through Fr. flibustier, fribustier, from Dut. vrijbueter, vrijbuiter (cf. Eng. freebooter, Ger. freibeuter), from vrij, free, buit, booty.]

Filices, fil′i-sez, n.pl. the ferns.—adjs. '; '; .

Filiform, fil′i-form, adj. having the form of a filament: long and slender. [L. filum, thread, forma, form.]

Filigree, fil′i-grē, n. a kind of ornamental metallic lacework of gold and silver, twisted into convoluted forms, united and partly consolidated by soldering—earlier forms, ', '.—adj. , ornamented with filigree. [Fr. filigrane—It. filigrana—L. filum, thread, granum, a grain.]

Filioque, fil-i-ō′kwe, n. the clause inserted into the Nicene Creed at Toledo in 589, which asserts that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Son, as well as from the Father—not accepted by the Eastern Church. [L., 'and from the son.']

Fill, fil, v.t. to make full: to put into until all the space is occupied: to supply abundantly: to satisfy: to glut: to perform the duties of: to supply a vacant office.—v.i. to become full: to become satiated.—n. as much as fills or satisfies: a full supply: a single charge of anything.—ns. ', he who, or that which, fills: a vessel for conveying a liquid into a bottle; ', anything used to fill up, stop a hole, to complete, &c., as the woof, in weaving: supply. [A.S. fyllan, fullian—ful, full.]

Fill, fil, n. (Shak.) the thill or shaft of a cart or carriage. [See Thill.]

Fillet, fil′et, n. a little string or band, esp. to tie round the head: meat or fish boned and rolled, roasted or baked: a piece of meat composed of muscle, esp. the fleshy part of the thigh: (archit.) a small space or band used along with mouldings.—v.t. to bind or adorn with a fillet:—pr.p. pa.p.  [Fr. filet, dim. of fil, from L. filum, a thread.]

Fillibeg, Philibeg, fil′i-beg, n. the kilt, the dress or petticoat reaching nearly to the knees, worn by the Highlanders of Scotland. [Gael. feileadhbeag—feileadh, plait, fold, beag, little.]

Fillip, fil′ip, v.t. to strike with the nail of the finger, forced from the ball of the thumb with a sudden jerk: to incite, drive:—pr.p. pa.p. —n. a jerk of the finger from the thumb: anything which excites. [A form of flip.]

Fillister, fil′is-ter, n. a rabbeting plane used in making window-sashes.

Filly, fil′i, n. a young mare: a lively, wanton girl. [Dim. of foal.]

Film, film, n. a thin skin or membrane: a very slender thread: the coating on a plate prepared to act as a medium for taking a picture.—v.t. to cover with a film, or thin skin.—n. '.—adj. ', composed of film or membranes. [A.S. filmen, extended from fell, a skin.]

Filoplume, fī′lo-plōōm, n. a long slender feather. [Formed from L. filum, thread, pluma, a feather.]

Filose, fī′lōs, adj. ending in a thread-like process.—n. , ferret or floss silk. [L. filum, thread.]

Filter, fil′ter, n. a contrivance arranged for purifying a liquid of solid insoluble matter by passing it through some porous substance which does not allow the solid particles to pass through.—v.t. to purify liquor by a filter.—v.i. to pass through a filter: to percolate.—ns. ', porous paper for use in filtering; ', a contrivance devised by the chemist Bunsen for accelerating the filtering process. [O. Fr. filtre—Low L. filtrum, felt.]

Filth, filth, n. foul matter: anything that defiles, physically or morally.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. , foul: unclean: impure. [A.S. fýldh—fúl, foul.]

Filtrate, fil′trāt, v.t. to filter or percolate.—n. , act or process of filtering.

Fimble, fim′bl, n. the male plant of hemp, yielding a weaker and shorter fibre than the Carl hemp or female plant. [Dut. femel.]

Fimbriate, -d, fim′bri-āt, -ed, adj. fringed.—n. ', a fringing filament.—v.t. ', to fringe: to hem.—adj. , fimbriate. [L. fimbriātus—fimbriæ, fibres.]

Fimetarious, fim-ē-tā′ri-us, adj. growing on dung.



Fin, fin, n. the organ by which a fish balances itself and swims.—n. ', a finner or fin-whale.—adjs. ', having feet with toes connected by a membrane; Finned, having fins; ', furnished with fins.—n. ', one of the rods or rays supporting a fish's fin.—adj. , having feet with membranes connecting the toes, as aquatic birds. [A.S. finn; L. pinna, a fin.]

Finable, fīn′a-bl, adj. liable to a fine.

Final, fī′nal, adj. last: decisive, conclusive: respecting the end or motive: of a judgment ready for execution.—ns. '; '; ', state of being final: completeness or conclusiveness.—adv. '.—Final cause (see Cause). [Fr.,—L. finalis—finis, an end.]

Finale, fi-nä′lā, n. the end: the last passage in a piece of music: the concluding piece in a concert. [It. finale, final—L. finis.]

Finance, fi-nans′, n. money affairs or revenue, esp. of a ruler or state: public money: the art of managing or administering the public money.—v.t. to manage financially, to furnish with sums of money.—adj. ', pertaining to finance.—n. ', a financier.—adv. '.—n. ', one skilled in finance: an officer who administers the public revenue.—v.i. and v.t. to finance. [Fr.,—Low L. financia—Low L. fināre, to pay a fine—finis. See Fine (2).]

Finch, finsh, n. a name applied to many Passerine birds, esp. to those of the genus Fringilla or family Fringillidæ—bullfinch, chaffinch, goldfinch, &c.—adjs. , Finched, striped or spotted on the back. [A.S. finc; Ger. fink.]

Find, fīnd, v.t. to come upon or meet with: to discover or arrive at: to perceive: to experience: to supply: to determine after judicial inquiry:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. found.—ns. '; ' (Shak.), one who finds fault with another; , act of one who finds: that which is found: a judicial verdict: (pl.) the appliances which some workmen have to supply, esp. of shoemakers—everything save leather.—Find one in (something), to supply one with something; Find one's account (in anything), to find satisfactory profit or advantage in it; Find one's legs, to rise, or to recover the use of one's legs, as after being drunk, &c.; Find one's self, to feel, as regards health, happiness, &c.; Find out, to discover. [A.S. findan; Ger. finden.]

Findon-haddock. See Finnan-haddock.

Fine, fīn, adj. excellent: beautiful: not coarse or heavy: subtle: thin: slender: exquisite: nice: delicate: overdone: showy: splendid: striking or remarkable (often ironically): pure, refined: consisting of small particles; sharp, keen.—v.t. to make fine: to refine: to purify: to change by imperceptible degrees.—adv. (Scot.) for finely, well.—v.t. ', to draw or sew up a rent so finely that it is not seen.—p.adj. ', drawn out too finely.—adj. ', somewhat fine.—adv. '.—ns. '; ' (same as Refiner); ', splendour, fine or showy things: a place where anything is fined or refined: a furnace for making iron malleable.—adjs. ', using fine phrases; , finely spun out: artfully contrived.—Fine arts, as painting, sculpture, music, those chiefly concerned with the beautiful—opp. to the Useful or Industrial arts. [Fr.,—L. finitus, finished, from finīre, to finish, finis, an end.]

Fine, fīn, n. a composition: a sum of money imposed as a punishment.—v.t. to impose a fine on: to punish by fine: (Shak.) to pledge or pawn.—adj.  (Shak.), endless.—In fine, in conclusion. [Low L. finis, a fine—L. finis, an end.]

Fineer, fi-nēr′, v.i. to get goods on credit by fraudulent artifice. [Prob. Dut.; cog. with Finance.]

Finesse, fi-nes′, n. subtlety of contrivance: artifice: an endeavour by a player holding (say) queen and ace to take the trick with the lower card.—v.i. to use artifice.—ns. '; '. [Fr.]

Finger, fing′gėr, n. one of the five terminal parts of the hand: a finger-breadth: skill in the use of the hand or fingers: execution in music.—v.t. to handle or perform with the fingers: to pilfer: to toy or meddle with.—v.i. to use lightly with the fingers, as a musical instrument.—ns. ', a deaf and dumb alphabet; ', the board, or part of a musical instrument, on which the keys for the fingers are placed; ', ', a bowl for holding the water used to cleanse the fingers after a meal; ', the breadth of a finger, the fourth part of a palm, forming 1 &frasl; 16 of a foot.—adj. ', having fingers, or anything like fingers.—ns. ', grass of genus Digitaria; ', a hole in the side of the tube of a flute, &c., capable of being closed by the player's finger to modify the pitch of tone; ', act or manner of touching with the fingers, esp. a musical instrument: a thick woollen yarn for stockings; ', a very diminutive being: the parr; ', a mark, esp. a soil made by the finger; ', a thin plate of metal or porcelain laid along the edge of a door at the handle, to prevent soiling by the hand; ', a post with a finger pointing, for directing passengers to the road; ', a covering of leather for protecting the finger.—Finger-and-toe (see Anbury).—A finger in the pie, a share in the doing of anything, often of vexatious meddling; Have at one's finger-ends, to be perfect master of a subject; Have one's fingers all thumbs, to have awkward fingers. [A.S. finger; Ger. finger.]



Finial, fin′i-al, n. the bunch of foliage, &c., at the termination of the pinnacles, gables, spires, &c., in Gothic architecture. [From L. finīre—finis.]

Finical, fin′i-kal, adj. affectedly fine or precise in trifles: nice: foppish.—n. ', state of being finical: something finical.—adv. '.—ns. ', the quality of being finical: foppery; ', fussiness and fastidiousness.—adjs. ', ', particular about trifles.

Fining, fīn′ing, n. process of refining or purifying.—n. , a pot or vessel used in refining.

Finis, fī′nis, n. the end: conclusion. [L.]

Finish, fin′ish, v.t. to end or complete the making of anything: to perfect: to give the last touches to: to put an end to, to destroy.—n. that which finishes or completes: the end of a race, hunt, &c.: last touch, careful elaboration, polish: the last coat of plaster to a wall.—p.adj. ', brought to an end or to completion: complete: perfect.—n. ', one who finishes, completes, or perfects: in bookbinding, the one who puts the last touches to the book in the way of gilding and decoration. [Fr. finir, finissant—L. finīre—finis, an end.]

Finite, fī′nīt, adj. having an end or limit: subject to limitations or conditions, as time, space—opp. to Infinite (q.v.).—adj. ', without end or limit.—adv. '.—ns. ', '. [L. finītus, pa.p. of finīre.]

Finn, fin, n. a native of Finland in the north-west of Russia.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to the Finns in the widest sense.

Finnan-haddock, fin′an-had′uk, n. a kind of smoked haddock, esp. that prepared at Findon, near Aberdeen.—Also .

Fiord, Fjord, fyord, n. name given in Scandinavia to a long, narrow, rock-bound inlet. [Norw.]

Fiorin, fī′o-rin, n. a species of creeping bent-grass.

Fiorite, fī-ō′rīt, n. a kind of siliceous incrustation found in the vicinity of volcanoes and hot springs. [From Santa Fiore in Tuscany.]

Fir, fėr, n. the name of several species of cone-bearing, resinous trees, valuable for their timber.—adj. , abounding in firs. [A.S. furh (wudu); cf. Ger. föhre.]

Fire, fīr, n. the heat and light caused by burning: flame: anything burning, as fuel in a grate, &c.: a conflagration: torture or death by burning: severe trial: anything inflaming or provoking: ardour of passion: vigour: brightness of fancy: enthusiasm: sexual passion.—v.t. to set on fire: to inflame: to irritate: to animate: to cause the explosion of: to discharge.—v.i. to take fire: to be or become irritated or inflamed: to discharge firearms.—n. ', an alarm of fire, an apparatus for giving such.—n.pl. ', arms or weapons which are discharged by fire exploding gunpowder.—ns. ', a small iron dart or arrow furnished with a combustible for setting fire to ships; ', a ball filled with combustibles to be thrown among enemies: a meteor; ', a balloon carrying a fire placed in the lower part for rarefying the air to make itself buoyant: a balloon sent up arranged to ignite at a certain height; ', a portable grate for a bedroom; ', a blast or blight affecting plants, in which they appear as if scorched by the sun; ', a steamboat fitted up to extinguish fires in docks; ', the box or chamber (usually copper) of a steam-engine, in which the fire is placed; ', a brand or piece of wood on fire: one who inflames the passions of others; ', a brick so made as to resist the action of fire, used for lining furnaces, &c.; ', a brigade or company of men for extinguishing fires or conflagrations; ', a bucket for carrying water to extinguish a fire; ', a kind of clay, capable of resisting fire, used in making firebricks; ', a cock or spout to let out water for extinguishing fires; ', a gas, carburetted hydrogen, in coal-mines, apt to take fire and explode when mixed with atmospheric air; ' (same as Andiron); ', a fiery meteor, a kind of firework; ', a juggler who pretends to eat fire: one given to needless quarrelling, a professed duellist; ', an engine or forcing-pump used to extinguish fires with water; ', a machine used to enable people to escape from fires.—adj. ' (Shak.), having fiery eyes.—ns. ' (Coleridge), ' (Swinburne), a flash of lightning; ', a name applied to many phosphorescent insects, all included with the Coleoptera or beetles, some giving forth a steady light, others flashing light intermittently (glow-worms, &c.); ', a framework of wire placed in front of a fireplace.—n.pl. ', the irons—poker, tongs, and shovel—used for a fire.—ns. ', a composition of pitch and sawdust, or the like, for kindling fires; ', a gun in which the fire is caused by a lock with steel and flint; ', a man whose business it is to assist in extinguishing fires: a man who tends the fires, as of a steam-engine; ', the chief of a fire-brigade.—adj. ', new from the fire: brand new: bright.—ns. ', a pan or metal vessel for holding fire; ', the place in a house appropriated to the fire: a hearth; ', a plug placed in a pipe which supplies water in case of fire; ', a written instrument of insurance against fire up to a certain amount; ', an earthen pot filled with combustibles, used in military operations.—adj. ', proof against fire.—ns. ', the act of rendering anything fireproof: the materials used; ', an incendiary; ', the crime of arson.—adj. ' (Shak.), robed in fire.—ns. ', a screen for intercepting the heat of the fire; ', a ship filled with combustibles, to set an enemy's vessels on fire; ', the side of the fireplace: the hearth: home.—adj. homely, intimate.—ns. ', the implement used by many primitive peoples for obtaining fire by friction; ', a kind of sandstone that bears a high degree of heat; ', ardent spirits; ', wood for burning.—n.pl. ', artificial works or preparations of gunpowder, sulphur, &c., to be fired chiefly for display or amusement.—ns. ', the worship of fire, chiefly by the Parsees in Persia and India; '; ', a putting fire to: discharge of guns: firewood: fuel: cauterisation; ', a detachment told off to fire over the grave of one buried with military honours, or to shoot one sentenced to death; , the temperature at which an inflammable oil will take fire spontaneously.—Fire off, to discharge a shot; Fire out (Shak.), to expel; Fire up, to start a fire: to fly into a passion.—Set the Thames on fire, to do something striking; Take fire, to begin to burn: to become aroused about something. [A.S. fýr; Ger. feuer; Gr. pyr.]

Firk, fėrk, v.t. (Shak.) to whip or beat: to rouse.

Firkin, fėr′kin, n. a measure equal to the fourth part of a barrel: 9 gallons: 56 lb. of butter. [With dim. suff. -kin, from Old Dut. vierde, fourth.]

Firlot, fėr′lot, n. an old Scotch dry measure, the fourth part of a boll.

Firm, fėrm, adj. fixed: compact: strong: not easily moved or disturbed: unshaken: resolute: decided.—v.t. (obs.) to fix, establish, confirm.—adj. ', wavering.—adv. '.—n. . [O. Fr. ferme—L. firmus.]

Firm, fėrm, n. the title under which a company transacts business: a business house or partnership. [It. firma, from L. firmus. See Farm.]

Firmament, fėr′ma-ment, n. the solid sphere in which the stars were thought to be fixed: the sky.—adj. , pertaining to the firmament: celestial. [Fr.,—L. firmamentum—firmus, firm.]

Firman, fėr′man, or fer-män′, n. any decree emanating from the Turkish government. [Pers. fermán; Sans. pramâna, command.]

Firn, firn, or fern, n. snow on high glaciers while still granular—the French névé. [Ger. firn, of last year; cf. obs. Eng. fern, former.]

First, fėrst, adj. foremost: preceding all others in place, time, or degree: most eminent: chief.—adv. before anything else, in time, space, rank, &c.—adjs. ', begotten or born first: eldest; ', born first.—n. the first in the order of birth: the eldest child.—adj. ', of the first class, rank, or quality.—ns. ', Sunday; ' (see Floor); ' (Scot.), the first person to enter a house after the beginning of the new year; ', ', the fruits first gathered in a season: the first profits or effects of anything, bishoprics, benefices, &c.—adj. ', obtained without the intervention of a second party.—n. ', the first produce or offspring, esp. of animals.—adv. ', in the first place.—adjs. ', of the first or highest rate or excellence: pre-eminent in quality, size, or estimation; , the first or highest quality, purest lustre—of diamonds and pearls. [A.S. fyrst; the superl. of fore by adding -st.]

Firth, fėrth. Same as Frith.

Fisc, fisk, n. the state treasury: the public revenue: one's purse.—adj. , pertaining to the public treasury or revenue.—n. a treasurer: a public prosecutor, the chief law officer of the crown under the Holy Roman Empire: (Scot.) an officer who prosecutes in petty criminal cases—fully, Procurator-fiscal. [O. Fr.,—L. fiscus, a purse.]

Fisgig. See Fizgig.



Fish, fish, n. a vertebrate that lives in water, and breathes through gills: the flesh of fish: a piece of wood fixed alongside another for strengthening:—pl. Fish, or '.—v.t. to search for fish: to search by sweeping: to draw out or up: (naut.) to strengthen, as a weak spar: to hoist the flukes of: to seek to obtain by artifice.—ns. ', ', a ball of chopped fish and mashed potatoes, fried.—adj. ', swelled out downward like the belly of a fish.—ns. ', a large flat implement for carving fish at table—also  and  ', a square box with a hole in its bottom, used in fishing through a hole in the ice; ', an angler's basket, a wicker-basket used for carrying fish; ', a day on which fish is eaten instead of meat; ', one who fishes, or whose occupation is to catch fish: a North American carnivore—a kind of marten or sable, the pekan or wood-shock; ', a fisher; ', the business of catching fish: a place for catching fish; ', a woman who sells fish; ', an enclosure on a river for the preserving or taking of fish—also '; ', a deity in form wholly or partly like a fish, like the Philistine Dagon; ', a barbed hook for catching fish.—v.t. ' (Shak.), to turn to fish.—n. '.—adj. ', used in fishery.—n. the art or practice of catching fish.—ns. ', the angler-fish; ', a long slender rod to which a line is fastened for angling; ', tackle—nets, lines, &c.—used in fishing; ', a joint or splice made with fish-plates; ', a long oval dish for boiling fish; ', ', an arrangement for enabling a fish to ascend a fall, &c.; ', a name widely applied to any of the Copepod crustaceans which occur as external parasites, both on fresh-water and marine fishes; ' (Shak.), a meal of fish: abstemious diet; ', a dealer in fish; ', the process of packing or canning fish for the market; ', an iron plate fitted to the web of a rail, used in pairs, one on each side of the junction of two rails; ', a pond in which fish are kept; ', one who receives consignments of fish for sale by auction to retail dealers; ', sauce proper to be eaten with fish, as anchovy, &c.; ', fish or fish-skins from which oil or glue has been extracted; ', a spear or dart for striking fish; ', a metal colander for taking fish from a boiler.—adj. ', shaped like the tail of a fish.—ns. ', a self-propelling torpedo; ', ', a woman who sells fish about the streets.—adj. ', consisting of fish: like a fish: abounding in fish: dubious, as a story: equivocal, unsafe.—ns. ', such fish as are used for bait, fish that may be caught with bait; ', those that feed on the bottom, as halibut, &c.—Fish for, to seek to gain by cunning or indirect means; Fisherman's luck, getting wet and catching no fish; Fisherman's ring, a signet-ring with the device of St Peter fishing, used in signing papal briefs.—A queer fish, a person of odd habits; Be neither fish nor flesh, or Neither fish, flesh, nor fowl, to be neither one thing nor another, in principle, &c.; Have other fish to fry, to have something else to do, or to take up one's mind; Make fish of one and flesh (or fowl) of another, to make invidious distinctions, show undue partiality. [A.S. fisc; Ger. fisch; Ice. fiskr; L. piscis; Gr. ichthys; Gael. iasg.]

Fiskery, fisk′er-i, n. (Carlyle) friskiness.—v.i. Fisk (obs.), to jump about. [Prob. a freq. of A.S. fýsan, to hurry, or of fésian, to feeze; Sw. fjäska, to fidget.]

Fissile, fis′il, adj. that may be cleft or split in the direction of the grain.—adjs. ', having the ribs divided; ', having the tongue cleft.—ns. ', cleavableness; ', a cleaving or breaking up into two parts.—adj. . [L. fissilis, from findĕre, fissum, to cleave.]

Fissiparous, fis-sip′a-rus, adj. propagated by spontaneous fission or self-division.—ns. ', '.—adv. . [L. fissus, pa.p. of findĕre, to cleave, parĕre, to bring forth.]

Fissiped, fis′i-ped, adj. cloven-footed—also n.

Fissirostral, fis-i-ros′tral, adj. having a deeply cleft or gaping beak, as swallows, &c. [L. fissus, cleft, rostrum, a beak.]

Fissle, fis′l, v.i. (Scot.) to rustle: to whistle.

Fissure, fish′ūr, n. a narrow opening or chasm: a cleft, slit, or furrow: any groove or sulcus, esp. one of the furrows on the surface of the brain, as the longitudinal fissure separating the hemispheres.—adj. , cleft, divided. [Fr.,—L. fissūra, from findĕre, fissum, to cleave.]

Fist, fist, n. the closed or clenched hand.—v.t. to strike or grip with the fist.—n. ', anecdotes about boxing and boxers.—adj. ' (Dickens), pugilistic.—ns. ', a blow with the fist: (pl.) boxing, blows; ', the law of brute force.—adj. . [A.S. fýst; Ger. faust.]

Fistula, fist′ū-la, n. a narrow passage or duct: the tube through which the wine of the eucharist was once sucked from the chalice—also Calamus.—adjs. ', hollow like a pipe; ', ', hollowed like a fistula.—v.i. ', to assume such a form.—adjs. '; ', , of the form of a fistula. [L. fistula, a pipe.]

Fit, fit, adj. adapted to any particular end or standard, prepared for: qualified: convenient: proper: properly trained and ready, as for a race.—v.t. to make fit or suitable: to suit one thing to another: to be adapted to: to qualify.—v.i. to be suitable or becoming:—pr.p. pa.p. —advs. ' (Milt.), most fitly; '.—ns. ' (Shak.), something fitted to an end; '; ', he who, or that which, makes fit.—adj. ', fit: appropriate.—n. anything used in fitting up, esp. in pl.—adv. '.—ns. ', a supply of things, fit and necessary; , a shop in which pieces of machinery are fitted together.—Fit out, to furnish, supply with stores, as a ship; Fit up, to provide with things suitable.—Not fit to hold a candle to (see Candle). [First recorded about 1440; app. cog. with Fit, n.]

Fit, fit, n. a sudden attack by convulsions, as apoplexy, epilepsy, &c.: convulsion or paroxysm: a temporary attack of anything, as laughter, &c.: a sudden effort or motion: a passing humour.—v.t. (Shak.) to wrench, as by a fit.—adj. ', marked by sudden impulses: spasmodic.—adv. '.—n. .—Fit of the face, a grimace; Fits and starts, spasmodic and irregular bursts of activity; By fits, irregularly. [A.S. fitt, a struggle—prob. orig. 'juncture,' 'meeting;' cf. Ice. fitja, to knit, Dut. vitten, to accommodate.]

Fit, fit, n. a song, or part of a song or ballad.—Also Fitt, Fitte, Fytte. [A.S. fitt, a song.]

Fitch, fich, n. now vetch: (B.) Isa. xxviii. 25, black cummin (Nigella sativa): in Ezek. iv. 9, a kind of bearded wheat, spelt. [See Vetch.]

Fitché, Fitchée, fich′ā, adj. (her.) cut to a point. [Fr. ficher, to fix.]

Fitchew, fich′ōō, n. a polecat.—Also . [O. Fr. fissel, from root of Dut. visse, nasty.]

Fitz, fits, n. (a prefix) son of: used in England, esp. of the illegitimate sons of kings and princes, as Fitzclarence, &c. [Norman Fr. fiz (Fr. fils)—L. filius.]

Five, fīv, adj. and n. four and one.—n. ', a name for various plants (cinque-foil, oxlip, &c.): a species of starfish.—adj. ', five times folded, or repeated in fives.—ns. ' (coll.), a five-pound note; ' (B.), having five corners or angles.—Five Articles, Five Points, statements of the distinctive doctrines of the Arminians and Calvinists respectively—the former promulgated in 1610, the latter sustained by the Synod of Dort in 1619 (see Calvinism).—Bunch of fives, the fist. [A.S. fíf; Ger. fünf; Goth. fimf; W. pump; L. quinque; Gr. pente, pempe; Sans. pancha.]

Fives, fīvz, n. (Shak.) vives, a disease of horses.

Fives, fīvz, n.pl. a game of handball played in a roomy court against a wall, chiefly at the great public schools of England.

Fix, fiks, v.t. to make firm or fast: to establish: to drive into: to settle: to put into permanent form: to establish as a fact: to direct steadily: to regulate: to deprive of volatility.—v.i. to settle or remain permanently: to become firm: to congeal.—n. (coll.) a difficulty: a dilemma.—adj. ', capable of being fixed.—ns. ', act of fixing, or state of being fixed: steadiness, firmness: state in which a body does not evaporate; ', that which fixes or sets colours; ', a gummy preparation for fixing the hair.—adj. Fixed, settled: not apt to evaporate: steadily directed towards: fast, lasting, permanent: substantively for fixed stars (Par. Lost, III. 481).—adv. '.—ns. '; '; ', ', fixedness.—n.pl. ', things needed for putting in order, arrangement.—adj. '.—ns. ', a movable that has become fastened to anything, as to land or to a house: a fixed article of furniture: a fixed or appointed time or event, as a horse-race;  (Shak.), stability, position, firmness.—Fixed air, the name given by Dr Joseph Black in 1756 to what in 1784 was named by Lavoisier carbonic acid; Fixed bodies (chem.), a term applied to those substances which remain fixed, and are not volatilised at moderately high temperatures; Fixed oils, those which, on the application of heat, do not volatilise without decomposition; Fixed stars, stars which appear always to occupy the same position in the heavens—opp. to Planets. [L., fixus, figĕre, to fix, prob. through O. Fr. fix, or Low L. fixāre.]

Fizgig, fiz′gig, n. a giddy girl: a firework of damp powder: a gimcrack: a crotchet.—Also .

Fizz, fiz, v.i. to make a hissing or sputtering sound.—n. any frothy drink, as soda-water, or esp. champagne.—adj. ' (Scot.), pithless—also '.—v.i. ', to hiss or sputter: to come to a sudden stop, to fail disgracefully.—n. a state of agitation or worry: an abortive effort.—adj. ', given to fizz. [Formed from the sound.]

Flabbergast, flab′ėrgast, v.t. (coll.) to stun, confound. [Prob. conn. with flabby, and gast, to astonish.]

Flabby, flab′i, adj. easily moved: soft, yielding: hanging loose.—n. . [From flap.]

Flabellate, flä-bel′āt, adj. fan-shaped—also '.—ns. ', the action of fanning;  (eccles.), a fan, anciently used to drive away flies from the chalice during the celebration of the eucharist. [L., a fan.]

Flaccid, flak′sid, adj. flabby: lax: easily yielding to pressure: soft and weak.—adv. '.—ns. ', , want of firmness. [Fr.,—L. flaccidus—flaccus, flabby.]

Flack, flak, v.i. (prov.), to flap, flutter.—v.t. to flap or flick with something.

Flacker, flak′ėr, v.i. (prov.) to flap, flutter.

Flacket, flak′et, n. a flask, bottle.

Flacon, flak-ong′, n. a scent-bottle, &c. [Fr.]

Flaff, flaf, v.i. (Scot.) to flap: to pant.—n. a flutter of the wings: a puff.—v.i. , to flutter. [Imit.]

Flag, flag, v.i. to grow languid or spiritless.—pr.p. pa.p. flagged.—n. '.—adj. ', limp, flabby. [Perh. O. Fr. flac—L. flaccus; prob. influenced by imit. forms as flap.]

Flag, flag, n. a popular name for many plants with sword-shaped leaves, mostly growing in moist situations, sometimes specially the species of iris or flower-de-luce—esp. the yellow flag: the acorus or sweet flag: (B.) reed-grass.—ns. ', a basket made of reeds for carrying tools; '.—adj. ', abounding in flags.—n. ', a worm or grub bred among flags or reeds. [Ety. obscure; cf. Dut. flag.]

Flag, flag, n. the ensign of a ship or of troops: a banner.—v.t. to decorate with flags: to inform by flag-signals.—ns. ', in the navy, the captain of the ship which bears the admiral's flag; ', an officer in a flag-ship, corresponding to an aide-de-camp in the army; ', a naval officer privileged to carry a flag denoting his rank—admiral, vice-admiral, rear-admiral, or commodore; ', the ship in which an admiral sails, and which carries his flag; , a staff or pole on which a flag is displayed.—Flag of distress, a flag displayed as a signal of distress—usually upside down or at half-mast; Flag of truce, a white flag displayed during war when some pacific communication is intended between the hostile parties; Black flag, a pirate's flag, pirates generally; Dip the flag, to lower the flag and then hoist it—a token of respect; Hang out the red flag, to give a challenge to battle; Strike, or Lower, the flag, to pull it down as a token of respect, submission, or surrender; White flag, an emblem of peace; Yellow flag, hoisted to show pestilence on board, also over ships, &c., in quarantine, and hospitals, &c., in time of war. [Prob. Scand.; Dan. flag; Dut. vlag, Ger. flagge.]

Flag, flag, n. a stone that separates in flakes or layers: a flat stone used for paving—also '.—v.t. to pave with flagstones.—n. ', flagstones: a pavement of flagstones. [A form of flake; Ice. flaga, a flag or slab.]

Flagellate, flaj′el-āt, v.t. to whip or scourge.—ns. '; '; ', ' (also one who scourges himself in religious discipline.—adjs. '; '; '.—n. ', a scourge: (bot.) a runner: (biol.) a large cilium or appendage to certain infusorians, &c. [L. flagellāre, -ātum—flagellum, dim. of flagrum, a whip.]

Flageolet, flaj′o-let, n. the modern form of the old flute-à-bec, or straight flute, the simplest kind of which is the tin whistle with six holes. [Fr., dim. of O. Fr. flageol, flajol, a pipe; not through a supposed Low L. flautīolus—from flauta, a flute.]

Flagitate, flaj′i-tāt, v.t. (Carlyle) to entreat, importune.—n. .

Flagitious, fla-jish′us, adj. grossly wicked: guilty of enormous crimes.—adv. '.—n. '. [L. flagitiosus—flagitium, a disgraceful act—flagrāre, to burn.]

Flagon, flag′un, n. a vessel with a narrow neck for holding liquids. [Fr. flacon for flascon—Low L. flasco. See Flask.]

Flagrant, flā′grant, adj. glaring: notorious: enormous.—ns. ', '.—adv. . [L. flagrans, pr.p. of flagrāre, to burn.]

Flail, flāl, n. an implement for threshing corn, consisting of a wooden bar (the swingle) hinged or tied to a handle: a medieval weapon with spiked iron swingle.—v.t. to strike with, or as if with, a flail. [A.S. fligel, prob. from L. flagellum, a scourge.]

Flair, flār, n. perceptiveness, discernment. [Fr.]

Flake, flāk, n. a small flat layer or film of anything: a very small loose mass, as of snow or wool.—v.t. to form into flakes.—ns. ', the purest white-lead for painting, in the form of scales or plates; '.—adj. . [Prob. Scand.; Ice. flóke, flock of wool; Old High Ger. floccho.]

Flake, flāk, n. (Scot.) a movable hurdle for fencing; (naut.) a stage hung over a ship's side for caulking, &c. [Scand.; cf. Ice. flake; Dut. vlaak.]

Flam, flam, n. a whim: an idle fancy: a falsehood.—v.t. to impose upon with such. [Prob. from flim-flam or flamfew, a trifle, a corr. of Fr. fanfelue.]

Flambeau, flam′bō, n. a flaming torch:—pl.  [Fr., flambe—L. flamma.]

Flamboyant, flam-boi′ant, adj. of the latest style of Gothic architecture which prevailed in France in the 15th and 16th centuries, corresponding to the Perpendicular in England—from the flame-like forms of the tracery of the windows, &c.: of wavy form: gorgeously coloured. [Fr. flamboyer, to blaze.]

Flame, flām, n. gaseous matter undergoing combustion: the gleam or blaze of a fire: rage: ardour of temper: vigour of thought: warmth of affection: love: (coll.) the object of love.—v.i. to burn as flame: to break out in passion.—adjs. ' (Shak.), of the colour of flame, bright yellow; '.—n. ', a small flame.—adj. ', red: gaudy: violent.—adv. '.—n. '.—adjs. ', producing flame; ', vomiting flames.—n. ', the flames in pictures of Japanese deities.—adj. ', pertaining to, or like, flame. [O. Fr. flambe—L. flamma—flagrāre, to burn.]

Flamen, flā′men, n. a priest in ancient Rome devoted to one particular god.—adj. . [L., from same root as fla-grāre, to burn.]

Flamingo, fla-ming′gō, n. a tropical bird of a flaming or bright-red colour, with long legs and neck. [Sp. flamenco—L. flamma, a flame.]

Flanch, flansh, n. a flange: (her.) an ordinary formed on each side of a shield by the segment of a circle.—adj. Flanched, charged with a pair of flanches. [Prob. related to flank.]

Flanconade, flang-ko-nād′, n. (fencing) a thrust in the flank or side. [Fr., from flanc, the side.]

Flâneur, flä-nür′, n. one who saunters about with gossip.—n. . [Fr. flâner, to lounge.]

Flange, flanj, n. a projecting or raised edge or flank, as of a wheel or of a rail.—adj. Flanged.—n. , a rail having a flange on one side to prevent wheels running off. [Corr. of flank.]

Flank, flangk, n. the side of an animal from the ribs to the thigh: the side or wing of anything, esp. of an army or fleet: a body of soldiers on the right and left extremities.—v.t. to attack or pass round the side of: to protect the flanks of one's own army by detached bodies of troops, or field-works, or to threaten those of the enemy by directing troops against them.—v.i. to be posted on the side: to touch.—n. , a fortification which commands the flank of an assailing force.—v.t. (obs.) to defend by flankers: to attack sideways.—Flank company, the company on the right or left when a battalion is in line; Flank files, the soldiers marching on the extreme right and left of a company, &c. [Fr. flanc, perh. L. flaccus, flabby.]

Flannel, flan′el, n. a soft woollen cloth of loose texture for undergarments, &c.: the garment itself: (pl.) the garb of cricketers, &c.—v.t. to wrap in or rub with flannel.—n. ', a cotton fabric, made in imitation of flannel.—adjs. '; . [Orig. flannen, acc. to Skeat, from W. gwlanen—gwlan, wool; acc. to Diez, the equivalent Fr. flanelle is from the O. Fr. flaine, a pillow-case.]

Flap, flap, n. the blow or motion of a broad loose object: anything broad and flexible hanging loose, as the tail of a coat: a portion of skin or flesh detached from the underlying part for covering and growing over the end of an amputated limb.—v.t. to beat or move with a flap.—v.i. to move, as wings: to hang like a flap:—pr.p. pa.p. flapped.—ns. ', the food of fools: transparent nonsense, gross flattery, &c.; ', a play in which small edibles, as raisins, are snatched from burning brandy, and swallowed.—v.t. (Shak.) to swallow or devour, as in flap-dragon.—adj. ' (Shak.), having ears hanging like a flap.—n. ' (Shak.), a kind of broad, flat pancake.—adj. '.—n. '. [Prob. imit.]

Flare, flār, v.i. to burn with a glaring, unsteady light: to glitter or flash: to display glaringly.—n. an unsteady light.—p.adj. ', giving out an unsteady light: gaudy.—adv. '.—adj. . [Prob. Scand.; cf. Norw. flara, to blaze.]

Flash, flash, n. a momentary gleam of light: a sudden burst, as of merriment: a short transient state.—v.i. to break forth, as a sudden light: to break out into intellectual brilliancy: to burst out into violence.—v.t. to cause to flash: to expand, as blown glass, into a disc: to send by some startling or sudden means.—n. ', a brothel.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', the act of blazing: a sudden burst, as of water; ', the temperature at which an inflammable liquid takes fire—in the case of petroleum, &c., ascertained by placing oil in a vessel called a tester (used open and closed), and heating it up to a point at which sufficient vapour is generated as to give off a small flash when a light is applied to it.—adj. ', dazzling for a moment: showy but empty: (Milt.) vapid: gay—also Flash, vulgarly showy, gay but tawdry: pertaining to thieves, vagabonds, &c., as the &apos;flash language'=thieves' cant or slang: &apos;flash notes'=counterfeit notes.—Flash in the pan (see Pan). [Prob. imit.; cf. Sw. prov. flasa, to blaze.]

Flask, flask, n. a narrow-necked vessel for holding liquids: a bottle: a pocket-bottle: a horn or metal vessel for carrying powder.—n. , a vessel in which viands are served: (Spens.) a basket.—Florence flask, a narrow-necked globular glass bottle of thin glass, as those in which olive-oil is brought from Italy. [A.S. flasce; Ger. flasche; prob. not Teut. acc. to Diez, but from Low L. flasco—L. vasculum, a flask.]

Flat, flat, adj. smooth: level: wanting points of prominence and interest: monotonous: vapid, insipid: dejected: unqualified, positive: (mus.) opposite of sharp.—n. a level plain: a tract covered by shallow water: something broad: a story or floor of a house, esp. when fitted up as a separate residence for a family: a simpleton, a gull: (mus.) a character (♭) which lowers a note a semitone.—ns. ', a large flat-bottomed boat for floating goods down the Mississippi, &c.; ', a name applied to marine bony fishes that have a flat body, such as the flounder, turbot, &c.—adj. ', having flat feet: resolute.—adj. and n. ', having an artificially flattened head, as some American Indians of the Chinooks—the name is officially but incorrectly applied to the Selish Indians in particular.—n. ', an iron for smoothing cloth.—advs. ', ' (Spens., Shak.), with the flat side down: not edgewise; '.—ns. '; ', a race over open or clear ground.—v.t. ', to make flat.—v.i. to become flat.—n. ', a mode of house-painting in which the paint is left without gloss.—adj. ', somewhat flat.—adj. or adv. ', flatways, or with the flat side downward.—n. , a tapeworm. [From a Teut. root found in Ice. flatr, flat, Sw. flat, Dan. flad, Old High Ger. flaz.]