Fiance
Fi´ance, v. t. [F. fiancer. See Affiance.] To betroth; to affiance. [Obs.] Harmar.

Fiance
Fi•an•ce´, n. [F.] A betrothed man.

Fiancee
Fi•an•cee´, n. [F.] A betrothed woman.

Fiants
Fi´ants, n. [F. fiente dung.] The dung of the fox, wolf, boar, or badger.

Fiar
Fi´ar, n. [See Feuar.]
1. (Scots Law) One in whom the property of an estate is vested, subject to the estate of a life renter.
"I am fiar of the lands; she a life renter." Sir W. Scott.
2. pl. The price of grain, as legally fixed, in the counties of Scotland, for the current year.

Fiat
Fi´at, n. [L., let it be done, 3d pers. sing., subj. pres., fr. fieri, used as pass. of facere to make. Cf. Be.]
1. An authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree.
"His fiat laid the corner stone." Willis.
2. (Eng. Law) (a) A warrant of a judge for certain processes. (b) An authority for certain proceedings given by the Lord Chancellor’s signature. Fiat money, irredeemable paper currency, not resting on a specie basis, but deriving its purchasing power from the declaratory fiat of the government issuing it.

Fib, n. [Prob. fr. fable; cf. Prov. E. fibble-fabble nonsense.] A falsehood; a lie; — used euphemistically.
"They are very serious; they don’t tell fibs." H. James.

Fib, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fibbed p. pr. & vb. n. Fibbing ] To speak falsely. [Colloq.]

Fib, v. t. To tell a fib to. [R.] De Quincey.

Fibber
Fib´ber, n. One who tells fibs. { Fi´ber, Fi´bre },, n. [F. fibre, L. fibra.]
1. One of the delicate, threadlike portions of which the tissues of plants and animals are in part constituted; as the fiber of flax or of muscle.
2. Any fine, slender thread, or threadlike substance; as a fiber of spun glass; especially, one of the slender rootlets of a plant.
3. Sinew; strength; toughness; as a man of real fiber.
"Yet had no fibers in him, nor no force." Chapman.
4. A general name for the raw material, such as cotton, flax, hemp, etc., used in textile manufactures. Fiber gun, a kind of steam gun for converting, wood, straw, etc., into fiber. The material is shut up in the gun with steam, air, or gas at a very high pressure which is afterward relieved suddenly by letting a lid at the muzzle fly open, when the rapid expansion separates the fibers. — Fiber plants (Bot.), plants capable of yielding fiber useful in the arts, as hemp, flax, ramie, agave, etc. { Fi´bered, Fi´bred }, a. Having fibers; made up of fibers. { Fi´ber-faced•, Fi´bre-faced• }, a. Having a visible fiber embodied in the surface of; — applied esp. to a kind of paper for checks, drafts, etc. { Fi´ber•less, Fi´bre•less }, a. Having no fibers; destitute of fibers or fiber.

Fibriform
Fi´bri•form, a. [L. fibra a fiber + -form.] (Biol.) Having the form of a fiber or fibers; resembling a fiber.

Fibril
Fi´bril, n. [F. fibrille, dim. of fibre, L. fibra.] A small fiber; the branch of a fiber; a very slender thread; a fibrilla. Cheyne.

Fibrilla
Fi•bril´la, n. ; pl. FibrillAE (#). [NL. See Fibril.] A minute thread or fiber, as one of the fibrous elements of a muscular fiber; a fibril.

Fibrillary
Fi´bril•la•ry, a. Of of pertaining to fibrils.

Fibrillated
Fi´bril•la•ted, a. Furnished with fibrils; fringed.

Fibrillation
Fi•bril•la´tion, n. The state of being reduced to fibers. Carpenter.

Fibrillose
Fi•bril´lose, a. Covered with hairlike appendages, as the under surface of some lichens; also composed of little strings or fibers; as fibrillose appendages.

Fibrillous
Fi•bril´lous, a. [Cf. F. fibraleux.] Pertaining to, or composed of, fibers.

Fibrin
Fi´brin, n. [Cf. F. fibrine. See Fiber.] (Physiol. Chem.)
1. A white, albuminous, fibrous substance, formed in the coagulation of the blood either by decomposition of fibrinogen, or from the union of fibrinogen and paraglobulin which exist separately in the blood. It is insoluble in water, but is readily digestible in gastric and pancreatic juice.
2. The white, albuminous mass remaining after washing lean beef or other meat with water until all coloring matter is removed; the fibrous portion of the muscle tissue; flesh fibrin.
3. An albuminous body, resembling animal fibrin in composition, found in cereal grains and similar seeds; vegetable fibrin. Fibrin factors (Physiol.), the albuminous bodies, paraglobulin and fibrinigen in the blood, which, by the action of the fibrin ferment, are changed into fibrin, in coagulation. — Fibrin ferment (Physiol. Chem.), a ferment which makes its appearance in the blood shortly after it is shed, and is supposed to be the active agent in causing coagulation of the blood, with formation of fibrin.

Fibrine
Fi´brine, a. Belonging to the fibers of plants.

Fibrinogen
Fi•brin´o•gen, n. [ Fibrin + -gen.] (Physiol. Chem.) An albuminous substance existing in the blood, and in other animal fluids, which either alone or with fibrinoplastin or paraglobulin forms fibrin, and thus causes coagulation.

Fibrinogenous
Fi•bri•nog´e•nous, a. (Physiol. Chem.) Possessed of properties similar to fibrinogen; capable of forming fibrin.

Fibrinoplastic
Fi•bri•no•plas´tic, a. (Physiol.Chem.) Like fibrinoplastin; capable of forming fibrin when brought in contact with fibrinogen.

Fibrinoplastin
Fi•bri•no•plas´tin, n. [ Fibrin + Gr. to form, mold.] (Physiol.Chem.) An albuminous substance, existing in the blood, which in combination with fibrinogen forms fibrin; — called also paraglobulin.

Fibrinous
Fi´bri•nous (? or 277), a. Having, or partaking of the properties of, fibrin; as fibrious exudation.

Fibrocartilage
Fi•bro•car´ti•lage, n. [L. fibra a fiber + E. cartilage.] (Anat.) A kind of cartilage with a fibrous matrix and approaching fibrous connective tissue in structure. — Fi•bro•car•ti•lag´i•nous (#), a.

Fibrochondrosteal
Fi•bro•chon•dros´te•al, a. [L. fibra a fiber + gr. cartilage + bone.] (Anat.) Partly fibrous, partly cartilaginous, and partly osseous. St. George Mivart.

Fibroid
Fi´broid, a. [L. fibra a fiber + -oid.] (Med.) Resembling or forming fibrous tissue; made up of fibers; as fibroid tumors. - - n. A fibroid tumor; a fibroma. Fibroid degeneration, a form of degeneration in which organs or tissues are converted into fibroid tissue. — Fibroid phthists, a form of pulmonary consumption associated with the formation of fibrous tissue in the lungs, and the gradual atrophy of the lungs, from the pressure due to the contraction of this tissue.

Fibroin
Fi´bro•in, n. [L. fibra a fiber.] (Chem.) A variety of gelatin; the chief ingredient of raw silk, extracted as a white amorphous mass.

Fibrolite
Fi´bro•lite, n. [L. fibra a fiber + -lite: cf. F. fibrolithe.] (Min.) A silicate of alumina, of fibrous or columnar structure. It is like andalusite in composition; — called also sillimanite, and bucholizite.

Fibroma
Fi•bro´ma, n. [NL. See Fiber, and -oma.] (Med.) A tumor consisting mainly of fibrous tissue, or of same modification of such tissue.

Fibrous
Fi´brous, a. [Cf. F. fibreux.] Containing, or consisting of, fibers; as the fibrous coat of the cocoanut; the fibrous roots of grasses. — Fi´brous•ness, n.

Fibrovascular
Fi•bro•vas´cu•lar, a. [L. fibra a fiber + E. vascular.] (Bot.) Containing woody fiber and ducts, as the stems of all flowering plants and ferns; — opposed to cellular.

Fibster
Fib´ster, n. One who tells fibs. [Jocular]

Fibula
Fib´u•la, n. ; pl. FibulAE (#). [L., clasp, buckle.]
1. A brooch, clasp, or buckle.
"Mere fibulae, without a robe to clasp." Wordsworth.
2. (Anat.) The outer and usually the smaller of the two bones of the leg, or hind limb, below the knee.
3. (Surg.) A needle for sewing up wounds.

Fibu-lar
Fib´u-lar, a. Pertaining to the fibula.

Fibulare
Fib•u•la´re, n. ; pl. Fibularia (#). [NL. See Fibula.] (Anat.) The bone or cartilage of the tarsus, which articulates with the fibula, and corresponds to the calcaneum in man and most mammals.

Fiche
Fi•che, a. (Her.) See Fitche.

Fichu
Fich´u, n. [F., neckerchief.] A light cape, usually of lace, worn by women, to cover the neck and throat, and extending to the shoulders.

Fickle
Fic´kle, a. [OE. fikel untrustworthy, deceitful, AS. ficol, fr. fic, gefic, fraud, deceit; cf. facen deceit, OS. fkn, OHG. feichan, Icel. feikn portent. Cf. Fidget.] Not fixed or firm; liable to change; unstable; of a changeable mind; not firm in opinion or purpose; inconstant; capricious; as Fortune’s fickle wheel. Shak.
"They know how fickle common lovers are." Dryden.
Syn. — Wavering; irresolute; unsettled; vacillating; unstable; inconsonant; unsteady; variable; mutable; changeful; capricious; veering; shifting.

Fickly
Fic´kly, adv. In a fickle manner. [Obs.] Pepys.

Fico
Fi´co, n. ; pl. Ficoes (#). [It., a fig, fr. L. ficus. See Fig.] A fig; an insignificant trifle, no more than the snap of one’s thumb; a sign of contempt made by the fingers, expressing. A fig for you.
"Steal! foh, a fico for the phrase." Shak.

Fictionist
Fic´tion•ist, n. A writer of fiction. [R.] Lamb.

Fictious
Fic´tious, a. Fictitious. [R.] Prior.

Fictitious
Fic•ti´tious, a. [L. fictitius. See Fiction.] Feigned; imaginary; not real; fabulous; counterfeit; false; not genuine; as fictitious fame.
"The human persons are as fictitious as the airy ones." Pope. — Fic•ti´tious•ly, adv. — Fic•ti´tious•ness, n.

Fictor
Fic´tor, n. [L.] An artist who models or forms statues and reliefs in any plastic material. [R.] Elmes.

Ficus
Fi´cus, n. [L., a fig.] A genus of trees or shrubs, one species of which ( F. Carica) produces the figs of commerce; the fig tree. Ficus Indica is the banyan tree; F. religiosa, the peepul tree; F. elastica, the India-rubber tree.

Fid, n. [Prov. E. fid a small, thick lump.]
1. (Naut.) A square bar of wood or iron, used to support the topmast, being passed through a hole or mortise at its heel, and resting on the trestle trees.
2. A wooden or metal bar or pin, used to support or steady anything.
3. A pin of hard wood, tapering to a point, used to open the strands of a rope in splicing. There are hand fids and standing fids (which are larger than the others, and stand upon a flat base). An iron implement for this purpose is called a marline spike.
4. (Mil.) A block of wood used in mounting and dismounting heavy guns.

Fidalgo
Fi•dal´go, n. [Pg. See Hidalgo.] The lowest title of nobility in Portugal, corresponding to that of Hidalgo in Spain.

Fiddledeedee
Fid´dle•dee•dee, interj. An exclamatory word or phrase, equivalent to nonsense! [Colloq.]

Fiddle-faddle
Fid´dle-fad•dle, n. A trifle; trifling talk; nonsense. [Colloq.] Spectator.

Fiddle-faddle
Fid´dle-fad•dle, v. i. To talk nonsense. [Colloq.] Ford.

Fiddler
Fid´dler, n. [AS. fiðelere.]
1. One who plays on a fiddle or violin.
2. (Zoöl.) A burrowing crab of the genus Gelasimus, of many species. The male has one claw very much enlarged, and often holds it in a position similar to that in which a musician holds a fiddle, hence the name; — called also calling crab, soldier crab, and fighting crab.
3. (Zoöl.) The common European sandpiper ( Tringoides hypoleucus); — so called because it continually oscillates its body. Fiddler crab. (Zoöl.) See Fiddler, n. , 2.

Fiddlestick
Fid´dle•stick, n. The bow, strung with horsehair, used in playing the fiddle; a fiddle bow.

Fiddlestring
Fid´dle•string, n. One of the catgut strings of a fiddle.

Fiddlewood
Fid´dle•wood, n. [Corrupted fr. F. bois- fidèle, lit., faithful wood; — so called from its durability.] The wood of several West Indian trees, mostly of the genus Citharexylum.

Fidejussion
Fi•de•jus´sion, n. [L. fidejussio, from fidejubere to be surety or bail; fides faith + jubere to order: cf. F. fidejussion.] (Civil Law) The act or state of being bound as surety for another; suretyship.

Fidejussor
Fi•de•jus´sor, n. [L.: cf. F. fidejusseur.] (Civil Law) A surety; one bound for another, conjointly with him; a guarantor. Blackstone.

Fidelity
Fi•del´i•ty, n. [L. fidelitas: cf. F. fidelite. See Fealty.] Faithfulness; adherence to right; careful and exact observance of duty, or discharge of obligations. Especially: (a) Adherence to a person or party to which one is bound; loyalty.
"Whose courageous fidelity was proof to all danger." Macaulay.
"The best security for the fidelity of men is to make interest coincide with duty." A. Hamilton. (b) Adherence to the marriage contract. (c) Adherence to truth; veracity; honesty.
"The principal thing required in a witness is fidelity." Hooker.
Syn. — Faithfulness; honesty; integrity; faith; loyalty; fealty.

Fidge (fij), n. & v. i. See Fidget. [R.] Swift.

Fidgetiness
Fidg´et•i•ness, n. Quality of being fidgety.

Fidgety
Fidg´et•y, a. Restless; uneasy. Lowell.

Fidia
Fid´i•a, n. [NL., prob. fr. L. fidus trusty.] (Zoöl.) A genus of small beetles, of which one species (the grapevine Fidia, F. longipes) is very injurious to vines in America.

Fidicinal
Fi•dic´i•nal, a. [L. fidicinus, fr. fidicen, -inis, a lute player.] (Mus.) Of or pertaining to a stringed instrument.

Fiducial
Fi•du´cial, a. [L. fiducia trust, confidence; akin to fides faith. See Faith.]
1. Having faith or trust; confident; undoubting; firm. "Fiducial reliance on the promises of God." Hammond.
2. Having the nature of a trust; fiduciary; as fiducial power. Spelman. Fiducial edge (Astron. & Surv.), the straight edge of the alidade or ruler along which a straight line is to be drawn. — Fiducialline or point (Math. & Physics.), a line or point of reference, as for setting a graduated circle or scale used for measurments.

Fie, interj. [OE. fi; cf. D. fif. G. pfui, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan. fy, F. fi, L. fi, phy.] An exclamation denoting contempt or dislike. See Fy. Fuller.

Fielded
Field´ed, a. Engaged in the field; encamped. [Obs.]
"To help fielded friends." Shak.

Fielden
Field´en, a. Consisting of fields. [Obs.]
"The fielden country also and plains." Holland.

Fielder
Field´er, n. (Ball Playing) A ball payer who stands out in the field to catch or stop balls.

Fieldfare
Field´fare ( 277), n. [OE. feldfare, AS. feldfare; field + faran to travel.] (Zoöl.) a small thrush ( Turdus pilaris) which breeds in northern Europe and winters in Great Britain. The head, nape, and lower part of the back are ash-colored; the upper part of the back and wing coverts, chestnut; — called also fellfare.

Fielding
Field´ing, n. (Ball Playing) The act of playing as a fielder.

Fieldpiece
Field´piece, n. A cannon mounted on wheels, for the use of a marching army; a piece of field artillery; — called also field gun.

Fieldwork
Field´work, n. (Mil.) Any temporary fortification thrown up by an army in the field; - - commonly in the plural.
"All works which do not come under the head of permanent fortification are called fieldworks." Wilhelm.

Fieldy
Field´y, a. Open, like a field. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Fiend, n. [OE. fend, find, fiend, feond, fiend, foe, AS. feónd; akin to OS. fiond, D. vijand enemy, OHG. fiant, G. feind, Icel. fjand, Sw. & Dan. fiende, Goth. fijands; orig. p. pr. of a verb meaning to hate, AS. feón, feógan, OHG. fin, Goth. fijan, Skr. piy to scorn; prob. akin to E. feud a quarrel. rad.81. Cf. Foe, Friend.] An implacable or malicious foe; one who is diabolically wicked or cruel; an infernal being; — applied specifically to the devil or a demon.
"Into this wild abyss the wary fiend Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while." Milton.
"O woman! woman! when to ill thy mind Is bent, all hell contains no fouler fiend." Pope.

Fiendish
Fiend´ish, a. Like a fiend; diabolically wicked or cruel; infernal; malignant; devilish; hellish. — Fiend´ish•ly, adv. — Fiend´ish•ness, n.

Fiendlike
Fiend´like, a. Fiendish; diabolical. Longfellow.

Fiendly
Fiend´ly, a. [AS. feóndlic.] Fiendlike; monstrous; devilish. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fierasfer
Fi•e•ras´fer, n. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A genus of small, slender fishes, remarkable for their habit of living as commensals in other animals. One species inhabits the gill cavity of the pearl oyster near Panama; another lives within an East Indian holothurian.

Fierce, a. [ Compar. Fiercer superl. Fiercest ] [OE. fers, fiers, OF. fier, nom. fiers, fierce, savage, cruel, F. fier proud, from L. ferus wild, savage, cruel; perh. akin to E. bear the animal. Cf. Feral, Ferocity.]
1. Furious; violent; unrestrained; impetuous; as a fierce wind.
"His fierce thunder drove us to the deep." Milton.
2. Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready or eager to kill or injure; of a nature to inspire terror; ferocious. "A fierce whisper." Dickens. "A fierce tyrant." Pope.
"The fierce foe hung upon our broken rear." Milton.
"Thou huntest me as a fierce lion." Job. x. 16.
3. Excessively earnest, eager, or ardent.
Syn. — Ferocious; savage; cruel; vehement; impetuous; barbarous; fell. See Ferocious. — Fierce´ly, adv. — Fierce´ness, n.

Fieriness
Fi´er•i•ness, n. The quality of being fiery; heat; acrimony; irritability; as a fieriness of temper. Addison.

Fiery
Fi´er•y, a. [Formerly written firy, fr. fire.]
1. Consisting of, containing, or resembling, fire; as the fiery gulf of Etna; a fiery appearance.
"And fiery billows roll below." I. Watts.
2. Vehement; ardent; very active; impetuous.
"Hath thy fiery heart so parched thine entrails?" Shak.
"The fiery spirit of his forefathers." W. Irwing.
3. Passionate; easily provoked; irritable.
"You know the fiery quality of the duke." Shak.
4. Unrestrained; fierce; mettlesome; spirited.
"One curbed the fiery steed." Dryden.
5. heated by fire, or as if by fire; burning hot; parched; feverish. Pope.
"The sword which is made fiery." Hooker. Fiery cross, a cross constructed of two firebrands, and pitched upon the point of a spear; formerly in Scotland borne by a runner as a signal for the clan to take up arms. Sir W. Scott.

Fiesta
Fies´ta, n. [Sp. See Feast, n. ] Among Spanish, a religious festival; a saint’s day or holiday; also a holiday or festivity.
"Even … a bullfight is a fiesta." Am. Dialect Notes.
"Some fiesta, when all the surrounding population were expected to turn out in holiday dress for merriment." The Century.

Fifteen
Fif´teen, a. [OE. fiftene, AS. fiftyne, fiftene. See Five, and Ten, and cf. Fifty.] Five and ten; one more than fourteen.

Fifteen
Fif´teen, n.
1. The sum of five and ten; fifteen units or objects.
2. A symbol representing fifteen units, as 15, or xv.

Fifteenth
Fif´teenth, a. [OE. fiftenthe; cf. fiftethe, AS. fifteoða. See Fifteen.]
1. Next in order after the fourteenth; — the ordinal of fifteen.
2. Consisting of one of fifteen equal parts or divisions of a thing.

Fifteenth
Fif´teenth, n.
1. One of fifteen equal parts or divisions; the quotient of a unit divided by fifteen.
2. A species of tax upon personal property formerly laid on towns, boroughs, etc., in England, being one fifteenth part of what the personal property in each town, etc., had been valued at. Burrill.
3. (Mus.) (a) A stop in an organ tuned two octaves above the diaposon. (b) An interval consisting of two octaves.

Fifth, a. [OE. fifte, fifthe, AS. fifta. See Five.]
1. Next in order after the fourth; — the ordinal of five.
2. Consisting of one of five equal divisions of a thing. Fifth monarchy men (Hist.), a fanatical sect in England, of the time of the commonwealth, who maintained that there would be a fifth universal monarchy, during which Christ would reign on earth a thousand years. — Fifth wheel, a horizontal wheel or segment above the fore axle of a carriage and beneath the body, forming an extended support to prevent careening.

Fifth, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by five; one of five equal parts; a fifth part.
2. (Mus.) The interval of three tones and a semitone, embracing five diatonic degrees of the scale; the dominant of any key.

Fifthly
Fifth´ly, adv. In the fifth place; as the fifth in order.

Fiftieth
Fif´ti•eth, a. [AS. fiftigoða. See Fifty.]
1. Next in order after the forty-ninth; — the ordinal of fifty.
2. Consisting of one of fifty equal parts or divisions.

Fiftieth
Fif´ti•eth, n. One of fifty equal parts; the quotient of a unit divided by fifty.

Fifty
Fif´ty, a. [AS. fiftig; akin to OHG. finfzug, fimfzuc, G. fünfzig, funfzig, Goth. fimftigjus. See Five, and Ten, and cf. Fifteen.] Five times ten; as fifty men.

Fifty
Fif´ty, n. ; pl. Fifties .
1. The sum of five tens; fifty units or objects.
2. A symbol representing fifty units, as 50, or l.

Fig, n. [F. figue the fruit of the tree, Pr. figa, fr. L. ficus fig tree, fig. Cf. Fico.]
1. (Bot.) A small fruit tree ( Ficus Carica) with large leaves, known from the remotest antiquity. It was probably native from Syria westward to the Canary Islands.
2. The fruit of a fig tree, which is of round or oblong shape, and of various colors. The fruit of a fig tree is really the hollow end of a stem, and bears numerous achenia inside the cavity. Many species have little, hard, inedible figs, and in only a few does the fruit become soft and pulpy. The fruit of the cultivated varieties is much prized in its fresh state, and also when dried or preserved. See Caprification.
3. A small piece of tobacco. [U.S.]
4. The value of a fig, practically nothing; a fico; — used in scorn or contempt. "A fig for Peter." Shak. Cochineal fig. See Conchineal fig. — Fig dust, a preparation of fine oatmeal for feeding caged birds. — Fig faun, one of a class of rural deities or monsters supposed to live on figs. "Therefore shall dragons dwell there with the fig fauns." Jer. i. 39. (Douay version). — Fig gnat (Zoöl.), a small fly said to be injurious to figs. — Fig leaf, the leaf tree; hence, in allusion to the first clothing of Adam and Eve (Genesis iii.7), a covering for a thing that ought to be concealed; esp., an inadequate covering; a symbol for affected modesty. — Fig marigold (Bot.), the name of several plants of the genus Mesembryanthemum, some of which are prized for the brilliancy and beauty of their flowers. — Fig tree (Bot.), any tree of the genus Ficus, but especially F. Carica which produces the fig of commerce.

Fig, v. t. [See Fico, Fig, n. ]
1. To insult with a fico, or contemptuous motion. See Fico. [Obs.]
"When Pistol lies, do this, and fig me like The bragging Spaniard." Shak.
2. To put into the head of, as something useless o contemptible. [Obs.] L’Estrange.

Fig, n. Figure; dress; array. [Colloq.]
"Were they all in full fig, the females with feathers on their heads, the males with chapeaux bras?" Prof. Wilson.

Figaro
Fi•ga•ro´, n. [From the name of the barber in Beaumarchais’ "Barber of Seville."] An adroit and unscrupulous intriguer.

Figary
Fig´a•ry, n. [Corrupted fr. vagary.] A frolic; a vagary; a whim. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Figeater
Fig´eat•er, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A large beetle ( Allorhina nitida) which in the Southern United States destroys figs. The elytra are velvety green with pale borders. (b) A bird. See Figpecker.

Figgum
Fig´gum, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A juggler’s trick; conjuring. [Obs.]
"The devil is the author of wicked figgum." B. Jonson.

Fight (fit), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fought (fat); p. pr. & vb. n. Fighting.] [OE. fihten, fehten, AS. feohtan; akin to D. vechten, OHG. fehtan, G. fechten, Sw. fäkta, Dan. fegte, and perh. to E. fist; cf. L. pugnare to fight, pugnus fist.]
1. To strive or contend for victory, with armies or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; — followed by with or against.
"You do fight against your country’s foes." Shak.
"To fight with thee no man of arms will deign." Milton.
2. To act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to contend; to strive; to make resistance. To fight shy, to avoid meeting fairly or at close quarters; to keep out of reach.

Fight, v. t.
1. To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by struggle, as one’s way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause.
"He had to fight his way through the world." Macaulay.
"I have fought a good fight." 2 Tim. iv. 7.
2. To contend with in battle; to war against; as they fought the enemy in two pitched battles; the sloop fought the frigate for three hours.
3. To cause to fight; to manage or maneuver in a fight; as to fight cocks; to fight one’s ship. To fight it out, to fight until a decisive and conclusive result is reached.

Fight, n. [OE. fight, feht, AS. feoht. See Fight, v. i.]
1. A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a combat; a violent conflict or struggle for victory, between individuals or between armies, ships, or navies, etc.
"Who now defies thee thrice to single fight." Milton.
2. A struggle or contest of any kind.
3. Strength or disposition for fighting; pugnacity; as he has a great deal of fight in him. [Colloq.]
4. A screen for the combatants in ships. [Obs.]
"Up with your fights, and your nettings prepare." Dryden. Running fight, a fight in which the enemy is continually chased; also one which continues without definite end or result.
Syn. — Combat; engagement; contest; struggle; encounter; fray; affray; action; conflict. See Battle.

Fighting
Fight´ing, a.
1. Qualified for war; fit for battle.
"An host of fighting men." 2 Chron. xxvi. 11.
2. Occupied in war; being the scene of a battle; as a fighting field. Pope. A fighting chance, one dependent upon the issue of a struggle. [Colloq.] — Fighting crab (Zoöl.), the fiddler crab. — Fighting fish (Zoöl.), a remarkably pugnacious East Indian fish ( Betta pugnax), reared by the Siamese for spectacular fish fights.

Fightingly
Fight´ing•ly, adv. Pugnaciously.

Fightwite
Fight´wite, n. [ Fight + wite.] (O.Eng. Law) A mulct or fine imposed on a person for making a fight or quarrel to the disturbance of the peace.

Figment
Fig´ment, n. [L. figmentum, fr. fingere to form, shape, invent, feign. See Feign.] An invention; a fiction; something feigned or imagined.
"Social figments, feints, and formalism." Mrs. Browning.
"It carried rather an appearance of figment and invention … than of truth and reality." Woodward.

Fig-shell
Fig´-shell, n. (Zoöl.) A marine univalve shell of the genus Pyrula, or Ficula, resembling a fig in form. { Fig´u•late, Fig´u•la•ted }, a. [L. figulatus, p. p. of figulare to shape, fr. figulus potter, fr. fingere to shape.] Made of potter’s clay; molded; shaped. [R.] Johnson.

Figuline
Fig´u•line, n. [F., fr. L. figulina pottery, fr. figulus. See Figulate.] A piece of pottery ornamented with representations of natural objects.
"Whose figulines and rustic wares Scarce find him bread from day to day." Longfellow.

Figuline
Fig´u•line, a. [L. figulinus. See Figulate.]
1. Suitable for the making of pottery; fictile; — said of clay.
2. Made of clay, as by the potter; — said of vessels, ornamental figures, or the like; as figuline ware.

Figurable
Fig•ur•a•ble, a. [L. figurare to form, shape, fr. figura figure: cf. F. figurable. See Figure.] Capable of being brought to a fixed form or shape.
"Lead is figurable, but water is not." Johnson.

Figurante
Fig´u•rante, n. fem. [F.] A female figurant; esp., a ballet girl.

Figurate
Fig´ur•ate, a. [L. figuratus, p. p. of figurare. See Figure.]
1. Of a definite form or figure.
"Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate bodies are not." Bacon.
2. Figurative; metaphorical. [Obs.] Bale.
3. (Mus.) Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as figurate counterpoint or descant. Figurate counterpoint or descant (Mus.), that which is not simple, or in which the parts do not move together tone for tone, but in which freer movement of one or more parts mingles passing discords with the harmony; — called also figural, figurative, and figured counterpoint or descant (although the term figured is more commonly applied to a bass with numerals written above or below to indicate the other notes of the harmony). — Figurate numbers (Math.), numbers, or series of numbers, formed from any arithmetical progression in which the first term is a unit, and the difference a whole number, by taking the first term, and the sums of the first two, first three, first four, etc., as the successive terms of a new series, from which another may be formed in the same manner, and so on, the numbers in the resulting series being such that points representing them are capable of symmetrical arrangement in different geometrical figures, as triangles, squares, pentagons, etc. In the following example, the two lower lines are composed of figurate numbers, those in the second line being triangular, and represented thus: — . 1, 2, 3, 4, etc… . 1, 3, 6, 10, etc… … . . etc. 1, 4, 10, 20, etc … … … …

Figurately
Fig´ur•ate•ly, adv. In a figurate manner.

Figuration
Fig•u•ra´tion, n. [L. figuratio.]
1. The act of giving figure or determinate form; determination to a certain form. Bacon.
2. (Mus.) Mixture of concords and discords.

Figurative
Fig´ur•a•tive, a. [L. figurativus: cf. F. figuratif. See Figurative.]
1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative.
"This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God’s appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity." Hooker.
2. Used in a sense that is tropical, as a metaphor; not literal; — applied to words and expressions.
3. Abounding in figures of speech; flowery; florid; as a highly figurative description.
4. Relating to the representation of form or figure by drawing, carving, etc. See Figure, n. , 2.
"They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they wrote for a public familiar with painted form." J. A. Symonds.Figurativecounterpoint or descant. See under Figurate. — Fig´ur•a•tive•ly, adv. — Fig´ur•a•tive•ness, n.

Figured
Fig´ured, a.
1. Adorned with figures; marked with figures; as figured muslin.
2. Not literal; figurative. [Obs.] Locke.
3. (Mus.) (a) Free and florid; as a figured descant. See Figurate, 3. (b) Indicated or noted by figures. Figured bass. See Continued bass, under Continued.

Figurial
Fi•gu´ri•al, a. Represented by figure or delineation. [R.] Craig.

Figurine
Fi•gu•rine´, n. [F., dim. of figure.] A very small figure, whether human or of an animal; especially, one in terra cotta or the like; — distinguished from statuette, which is applied to small figures in bronze, marble, etc.

Figurist
Fig´ur•ist, n. One who uses or interprets figurative expressions. Waterland.

Figwort
Fig´wort, n. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants ( Scrophularia), mostly found in the north temperate zones. See Brownwort.

Fike, n. See Fyke.

Filacer
Fil´a•cer, n. [OE. filace a file, or thread, on which the records of the courts of justice were strung, F. filasse tow of flax or hemp, fr. L. filum thread.] (Eng. Law) A former officer in the English Court of Common Pleas; — so called because he filed the writs on which he made out process. [Obs.] Burrill.

Filament
Fil´a•ment, n. [F. filament, fr. L. filum thread. See File a row.] A thread or threadlike object or appendage; a fiber; esp. (Bot.), the threadlike part of the stamen supporting the anther.

Filamentoid
Fil´a•men•toid, a. [ Filament + -oid.] Like a filament.

Filamentous
Fil•a•men´tous, a. [Cf. F. filamenteux.] Like a thread; consisting of threads or filaments. Gray.

Filander
Fil´an•der, n. (Zoöl.) A species of kangaroo ( Macropus Brunii), inhabiting New Guinea.

Filanders
Fil´an•ders, n. pl. [F. filandres, fr. L. filum thread.] (Falconry) A disease in hawks, characterized by the presence of small threadlike worms, also of filaments of coagulated blood, from the rupture of a vein; — called also backworm. Sir T. Browne.

Filar
Fi´lar, a. [L. filum a thread.] Of or pertaining to a thread or line; characterized by threads stretched across the field of view; as a filar microscope; a filar micrometer.

Filaria
Fi•la´ri•a, n. [NL., fr. L. filum a thread.] (Zoöl.) A genus of slender, nematode worms of many species, parasitic in various animals. See Guinea worm.

Filariasis
Fil•a•ri´a•sis, n. [NL.] (Med.) The presence of filariae in the blood; infection with filariae.

Filasse
Fi•lasse´, n. [F., fr. fil thread, L. filum.] Vegetable fiber, as jute or ramie, prepared for manufacture.

Filatory
Fil´a•to•ry, n. [LL. filatorium place for spinning, fr. filare to spin, fr. L. filum a thread.] A machine for forming threads. [Obs.] W. Tooke.

Filature
Fil´a•ture ( 135), n. [LL. filatura, fr. filare to spin: cf. F. filature. See Filatory.]
1. A drawing out into threads; hence, the reeling of silk from cocoons. Ure.
2. A reel for drawing off silk from cocoons; also an establishment for reeling silk.

Filch (filch), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Filched (filcht); p. pr. & vb. n. Filching.] [Cf. AS. feolan to stick to, OHG. felhan, felahan, to hide, Icel. fela, Goth. filhan to hide, bury, Prov. E. feal to hide slyly, OE. felen.] To steal or take privily (commonly, that which is of little value); to pilfer.
"Fain would they filch that little food away." Dryden.
"But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed." Shak.

Filchingly
Filch´ing•ly, adv. By pilfering or petty stealing.

File (fil), n. [F. file row (cf. Pr., Sp., Pg., & It. fila), LL. fila, fr. L. filum a thread. Cf. Enfilade, Filament, Fillet.]
1. An orderly succession; a line; a row; as: (a) (Mil) A row of soldiers ranged one behind another; — in contradistinction to rank, which designates a row of soldiers standing abreast; a number consisting the depth of a body of troops, which, in the ordinary modern formation, consists of two men, the battalion standing two deep, or in two ranks. The number of files in a company describes its width, as the number of ranks does its depth; thus, 100 men in "fours deep" would be spoken of as 25 files in 4 ranks. Farrow. (b) An orderly collection of papers, arranged in sequence or classified for preservation and reference; as files of letters or of newspapers; this mail brings English files to the 15th instant. (c) The line, wire, or other contrivance, by which papers are put and kept in order.
"It is upon a file with the duke’s other letters." Shak. (d) A roll or list. "A file of all the gentry." Shak.
2. Course of thought; thread of narration. [Obs.]
"Let me resume the file of my narration." Sir H. Wotton.File firing, the act of firing by file, or each file independently of others. — File leader, the soldier at the front of any file, who covers and leads those in rear of him. — File marching, the marching of a line two deep, when faced to the right or left, so that the front and rear rank march side by side. Brande & C. —Indian file, or Single file, a line of men marching one behind another; a single row. — On file, preserved in an orderly collection. — Rank and file. (a) The body of soldiers constituing the mass of an army, including corporals and privates. Wilhelm. (b) Those who constitute the bulk or working members of a party, society, etc., in distinction from the leaders.

File, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Filed p. pr. & vb. n. Filing.]
1. To set in order; to arrange, or lay away, esp. as papers in a methodical manner for preservation and reverence; to place on file; to insert in its proper place in an arranged body of papers.
"I would have my several courses and my dishes well filed." Beau. & Fl.
2. To bring before a court or legislative body by presenting proper papers in a regular way; as to file a petition or bill. Burrill.
3. (Law) To put upon the files or among the records of a court; to note on (a paper) the fact date of its reception in court.
"To file a paper, on the part of a party, is to place it in the official custody of the clerk. To file, on the part of the clerk, is to indorse upon the paper the date of its reception, and retain it in his office, subject to inspection by whomsoever it may concern." Burrill.

File, v. i. [Cf. F. filer.] (Mil.) To march in a file or line, as soldiers, not abreast, but one after another; — generally with off. To file with, to follow closely, as one soldier after another in file; to keep pace.
"My endeavors Have ever come too short of my desires, Yet filed with my abilities." Shak.

File (fil), n. [AS. feól; akin to D. viji, OHG. fila, fihala, G. feile, Sw. fil, Dan. fiil, cf. Icel. þel, Russ. pila, and Skr. piç to cut out, adorn; perh. akin to E. paint.]
1. A steel instrument, having cutting ridges or teeth, made by indentation with a chisel, used for abrading or smoothing other substances, as metals, wood, etc. A file differs from a rasp in having the furrows made by straight cuts of a chisel, either single or crossed, while the rasp has coarse, single teeth, raised by the pyramidal end of a triangular punch.
2. Anything employed to smooth, polish, or rasp, literally or figuratively.
"Mock the nice touches of the critic’s file." Akenside.
3. A shrewd or artful person. [Slang] Fielding.
"Will is an old file in spite of his smooth face." Thackeray. Bastard file, Cross file, etc. See under Bastard, Cross, etc. — Cross-cut file, a file having two sets of teeth crossing obliquely. — File blank, a steel blank shaped and ground ready for cutting to form a file. — File cutter, a maker of files. — Second-cut file, a file having teeth of a grade next finer than bastard. — Single-cut file, a file having only one set of parallel teeth; a float. — Smooth file, a file having teeth so fine as to make an almost smooth surface.

File, v. t.
1. To rub, smooth, or cut away, with a file; to sharpen with a file; as to file a saw or a tooth.
2. To smooth or polish as with a file. Shak.
"File your tongue to a little more courtesy." Sir W. Scott.

File, v. t. [OE. fulen, filen, foulen, AS. flan, fr. fl foul. See Foul, and cf. Defile, v. t.] To make foul; to defile. [Obs.]
"All his hairy breast with blood was filed." Spenser.
"For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind." Shak.

Filefish
File´fish, n. (Zoöl.) Any plectognath fish of the genera Monacanthus, Alutera, balistes, and allied genera; — so called on account of the roughly granulated skin, which is sometimes used in place of sandpaper.

Filemot
Fil´e•mot, n. See Feullemort. Swift.

Filial
Fil´ial, a. [L. filialis, fr. filius son, filia daughter; akin to e. female, feminine. Cf. Fitz.]
1. Of or pertaining to a son or daughter; becoming to a child in relation to his parents; as filial obedience.
2. Bearing the relation of a child.
"And thus the filial Godhead answering spoke." Milton.

Filiate
Fil´i•ate, v. t. To adopt as son or daughter; to establish filiation between. [R.] Southey.

Filiation
Fil•i•a´tion, n. [LL. filiatio, fr. L. filius son: cf. F. filiation. See Filial.]
1. The relationship of a son or child to a parent, esp. to a father.
"The relation of paternity and filiation." Sir M. Hale.
2. (Law) The assignment of a bastard child to some one as its father; affiliation. Smart.

Filiation
Fil•i•a´tion, n.
1. Descent from, or as if from, a parent; relationship like that of a son; as to determine the filiation of a language.
2. One that is derived from a parent or source; an offshoot; as the filiations are from a common stock.

Filibeg
Fil´i•beg, n. [Gael. feileadhbeag, i. e., little kilt; feileadh kilt + beag little, small; cf. filleadh a plait, fold.] Same as Kilt. [Written also philibeg.]

Filical
Fil´i•cal, a. Belonging to the Filices, r ferns.

Filicic
Fi•lic´ic, a. [L. filix, -icis, a fern.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, ferns; as filicic acid.

Filicide
Fil´i•cide, n. [L. filius son, filia daughter + caedere to kill.] The act of murdering a son or a daughter; also parent who commits such a murder.

Filiciform
Fi•lic´i•form, a. [L. filix, -icis, fern + -form: cf. F. filiciforme] Shaped like a fern or like the parts of a fern leaf. Smart.

Filicoid
Fil´i•coid, a. [L. filix, -icis, fern + -oid: cf. F. filicoiïde.] (Bot.) Fernlike, either in form or in the nature of the method of reproduction.

Filicoid
Fil´i•coid, n. (Bot.) A fernlike plant. Lindley.

Filiety
Fi•li´e•ty, n. [L. filietas.] The relation of a son to a father; sonship; — the correlative of paternity. J. S. Mill.

Filiferous
Fi•lif´er•ous, a. [L. filum a thread + -ferous.] Producing threads. Carpenter.

Filiform
Fil´i•form, a. [L. filum thread + -form: cf. F. filiforme.] Having the shape of a thread or filament; as the filiform papillae of the tongue; a filiform style or peduncle. See Illust. of AntennAE. { Fil´i•grain, Fil´i•grane }, n. [Sp. filigrana (cf. It. filigrana, E. filigrane), fr. L. filuma thread + granum grain. See File a row, and Grain, and cf. Filigree.] Filigree. [Archaic]
"With her head … touches the crown of filigrane." Longfellow.

Filigreed
Fil´i•greed, a. Adorned with filigree. Tatler.

Filing
Fil´ing, n. A fragment or particle rubbed off by the act of filing; as iron filings.

Filioque
Fil•i•o´que, n. (Eccl. Hist.) The Latin for, "and from the Son," equivalent to et filio, inserted by the third council of Toledo (a. d. 589) in the clause qui ex Patre procedit (who proceedeth from the Father) of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (a. d. 381), which makes a creed state that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Son as well as from the Father. Hence, the doctrine itself (not admitted by the Eastern Church).

Filipino
Fil•i•pi´no, n. ; pl. Filipinos (#). [Sp.] A native of the Philippine Islands, specif. one of Spanish descent or of mixed blood.
"Then there are Filipinos, — "children of the country," they are called, — who are supposed to be pure-blooded descendants of Spanish settlers. But there are few of them without some touch of Chinese or native blood." The Century.

Fill, n. [See Thill.] One of the thills or shafts of a carriage. Mortimer. Fill horse, a thill horse. Shak.

Fill, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Filled p. pr. & vb. n. Filling.] [OE. fillen, fullen, AS. fyllan, fr. full full; akin to D. vullen, G. füllen, Icel. fylla, Sw. fylla, Dan. fylde, Goth. fulljan. See Full, a. ]
1. To make full; to supply with as much as can be held or contained; to put or pour into, till no more can be received; to occupy the whole capacity of.
"The rain also filleth the pools." Ps. lxxxiv. 6.
"Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. Anf they filled them up to the brim." John ii. 7.
2. To furnish an abudant supply to; to furnish with as mush as is desired or desirable; to occupy the whole of; to swarm in or overrun.
"And God blessed them, saying. Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas." Gen. i. 22.
"The Syrians filled the country." 1 Kings xx. 27.
3. To fill or supply fully with food; to feed; to satisfy.
"Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fillso great a multitude?" Matt. xv. 33.
"Things that are sweet and fat are more filling." Bacon.
4. To possess and perform the duties of; to officiate in, as an incumbent; to occupy; to hold; as a king fills a throne; the president fills the office of chief magistrate; the speaker of the House fills the chair.
5. To supply with an incumbent; as to fill an office or a vacancy. A. Hamilton.
6. (Naut.) (a) To press and dilate, as a sail; as the wind filled the sails. (b) To trim (a yard) so that the wind shall blow on the after side of the sails.
7. (Civil Engineering) To make an embankment in, or raise the level of (a low place), with earth or gravel. To fill in, to insert; as he filled in the figures. — To fill out, to extend or enlarge to the desired limit; to make complete; as to fill out a bill. — To fill up, to make quite full; to fill to the brim or entirely; to occupy completely; to complete. "The bliss that fills up all the mind." Pope. "And fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ." Col. i. 24.

Fill, v. i.
1. To become full; to have the whole capacity occupied; to have an abundant supply; to be satiated; as corn fills well in a warm season; the sail fills with the wind.
2. To fill a cup or glass for drinking.
"Give me some wine; fill full." Shak. To back and fill. See under Back, v. i. — To fill up, to grow or become quite full; as the channel of the river fills up with sand.

Fill, n. [AS. fyllo. See Fill, v. t.] A full supply, as much as supplies want; as much as gives complete satisfaction. "Ye shall eat your fill." Lev. xxv. 19.
"I’ll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill." Shak.

Fill, n. That which fills; filling; specif., an embankment, as in railroad construction, to fill a hollow or ravine; also the place which is to be filled.

Filled cheese. An inferior kind of cheese made from skim milk with a fatty "filling," such as oleomargarine or lard, to replace the fat removed in the cream.

Filler
Fill´er, n. One who, or that which, fills; something used for filling.
"’T is mere filler, to stop a vacancy in the hexameter." Dryden.
"They have six diggers to four fillers, so as to keep the fillers always at work." Mortimer.

Filler
Fill´er, n. [From 1st Fill.] A thill horse. [Prov. Eng.]

Filler
Fill´er, n.
1. (Paint.) A composition, as of powdered silica and oil, used to fill the pores and grain of wood before applying paint, varnish, etc.
2. (Forestry) Any standing tree or standard higher than the surrounding coppice in the form of forest known as coppice under standards. Chiefly used in the pl.

Fillet
Fil´let, n. [OE. filet, felet, fr. OF. filet thread, fillet of meat, dim. of fil a thread, fr. L. filum. See Fille a row.]
1. A little band, especially one intended to encircle the hair of the head.
"A belt her waist, a fillet binds her hair." Pope.
2. (Cooking) A piece of lean meat without bone; sometimes, a long strip rolled together and tied. A fillet of beef is the under side of the sirlom; also called tenderloin. A fillet of veal or mutton is the fleshy part of the thigh. A fillet of fish is a slice of flat fish without bone. "Fillet of a fenny snake." Shak.
3. A thin strip or ribbon; esp.: (a) A strip of metal from which coins are punched. (b) A strip of card clothing. (c) A thin projecting band or strip.
4. (Mach.) A concave filling in of a reëntrant angle where two surfaces meet, forming a rounded corner.
5. (Arch.) A narrow flat member; especially, a flat molding separating other moldings; a reglet; also the space between two flutings in a shaft. See Illust. of Base, and Column.
6. (Her.) An ordinary equaling in breadth one fourth of the chief, to the lowest portion of which it corresponds in position.
7. (Mech.) The thread of a screw.
8. A border of broad or narrow lines of color or gilt.
9. The raised molding about the muzzle of a gun.
10. Any scantling smaller than a batten.
11. (Anat.) A fascia; a band of fibers; applied esp. to certain bands of white matter in the brain.
12. (Man.) The loins of a horse, beginning at the place where the hinder part of the saddle rests. Arris fillet. See under Arris.

Fillet
Fil´let, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Filleted; p. pr. & vb. n. Filleting.] To bind, furnish, or adorn with a fillet.

Fillibeg
Fil´li•beg, n. A kilt. See Filibeg.

Fillipeen
Fil´li•peen, n. See Philopena.

Filly
Fil´ly, n. ; pl. Fillies (#). [Cf. Icel. fylia, fr. foli foal. See Foal.]
1. (Zoöl.) A female foal or colt; a young mare. Cf. Colt, Foal.
"Neighing in likeness of a filly foal." Shak.
2. A lively, spirited young girl. [Colloq.] Addison.

Filminess
Film´i•ness, n. State of being filmy.

Filmy
Film´y, a. Composed of film or films.
"Whose filmy cord should bind the struggling fly." Dryden.

Filoplumaceous
Fil•o•plu•ma´ceous, a. (Zoöl.) Having the structure of a filoplume.

Filoplume
Fil´o•plume, n. [L. filum a thread pluma a soft feather.] (Zoöl.) A hairlike feather; a father with a slender scape and without a web in most or all of its length.

Filose
Fi´lose, a. [L. filum a thread.] Terminating in a threadlike process.

Filoselle
Fil•o•selle´, n. [F., floss silk.] A kind of silk thread less glossy than floss, and spun from coarser material. It is much used in embroidery instead of floss.

Fils, n. [F., fr. L. filius. See Filial.] Son; — sometimes used after a French proper name to distinguish a son from his father, as Alexandre Dumas fils.

Filthiness
Filth´i•ness, n.
1. The state of being filthy.
"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit." 2 Cor. vii. 1.
2. That which is filthy, or makes filthy; foulness; nastiness; corruption; pollution; impurity.
"Carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place." 2 Chron. xxix. 5.

Filthy
Filth´y, a. [ Compar. Filthier superl. Filthiest.] Defiled with filth, whether material or moral; nasty; dirty; polluted; foul; impure; obscene. "In the filthy-mantled pool." Shak.
"He which is filthy let him be filthy still." Rev. xxii. 11.
Syn. — Nasty; foul; dirty; squalid; unclean; sluttish; gross; vulgar; licentious. See Nasty.

Filtration
Fil•tra´tion, n. [Cf. F. filtration.] The act or process of filtering; the mechanical separation of a liquid from the undissolved particles floating in it. { Fim´ble, n. , or Fim"ble hemp• (fim"b’l hemp•). }[Corrupted from female hemp.] Light summer hemp, that bears no seed.

Fimbria
Fim´bri•a, n. ; pl. Fimbriae (#). [L., fringe. See Fringle.] (Anat.) (a) pl. A fringe, or fringed border. (b) A band of white matter bordering the hippocampus in the brain. — Fim´bri•al (#), a.

Fimbricate
Fim´bri•cate, a.
1. Fringed; jagged; fimbriate.
2. (Zoöl.) fringed, on one side only, by long, straight hairs, as the antennae of certain insects.

Fin, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Finned p. pr. & vb. n. Finning.] [Cf. Fin of a fish.] To carve or cut up, as a chub.

Fin, n. [See Fine, n. ] End; conclusion; object. [Obs.] "She knew eke the fin of his intent." Chaucer.

Fin, n. [OE. finne, fin, AS. finn; akin to D. vin, G. & Dan. finne, Sw. fena, L. pinna, penna, a wing, feather. Cf. pen a feather.]
1. (Zoöl.) An organ of a fish, consisting of a membrane supported by rays, or little bony or cartilaginous ossicles, and serving to balance and propel it in the water. Fishes move through the water chiefly by means of the caudal fin or tail, the principal office of the other fins being to balance or direct the body, though they are also to a certain extent, employed in producing motion.
2. (Zoöl.) A membranous, finlike, swimming organ, as in pteropod and heteropod mollusks.
3. A finlike organ or attachment; a part of an object or product which protrudes like a fin, as: (a) The hand. [Slang] (b) (Com.) A blade of whalebone. [Eng.] McElrath. (c) (Mech.) A mark or ridge left on a casting at the junction of the parts of a mold. (d) (Mech.) The thin sheet of metal squeezed out between the collars of the rolls in the process of rolling. Raymond. (e) (Mech.) A feather; a spline.
4. A finlike appendage, as to submarine boats. Apidose fin. (Zoöl.) See under Adipose, a. — Fin ray (Anat.), one of the hornlike, cartilaginous, or bony, dermal rods which form the skeleton of the fins of fishes. — Fin whale (Zoöl.), a finback. — Paired fins (Zoöl.), the pectoral and ventral fins, corresponding to the fore and hind legs of the higher animals. — Unpaired, or Median, fins (Zoöl.), the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins.

Fin, n. (Aëronautics) A fixed stabilizing surface, usually vertical, similar in purpose to a bilge keel on a ship.

Fin de siècle
Fin• de siè"cle [F.] Lit., end of the century; — mostly used adjectively in English to signify: belonging to, or characteristic of, the close of the 19th century; modern; "up- to-date;" as fin-de-siècle ideas.

Fin keel. (Naut.) A projection downward from the keel of a yacht, resembling in shape the fin of a fish, though often with a cigar-shaped bulb of lead at the bottom, and generally made of metal. Its use is to ballast the boat and also to enable her to sail close to the wind and to make the least possible leeway by offering great resistance to lateral motion through the water.

Finable
Fin´a•ble, a. [From Fine.] Liable or subject to a fine; as a finable person or offense. Bacon.

Finality
Fi•nal´i•ty, n. ; pl. Finalities (#). [L. finalitas the being last.]
1. The state of being final, finished, or complete; a final or conclusive arrangement; a settlement. Baxter.
2. The relation of end or purpose to its means. Janet.

Finally
Fi´nal•ly, adv.
1. At the end or conclusion; ultimately; lastly; as the contest was long, but the Romans finally conquered.
"Whom patience finally must crown." Milton.
2. Completely; beyond recovery.
"Not any house of noble English in Ireland was utterly destroyed or finally rooted out." Sir J. Davies.

Finance
Fi•nance´, n. [F., fr. LL. financia payment of money, money, fr. finare to pay a fine or subsidy (cf. OF. finer to finish, pay), fr. L. finis end. See Fine, n. , Finish.]
1. The income of a ruler or of a state; revenue; public money; sometimes, the income of an individual; often used in the plural for funds; available money; resources.
"All the finances or revenues of the imperial crown." Bacon.
2. The science of raising and expending the public revenue. "Versed in the details of finance." Macaulay.

Finance
Fi•nance´, v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Financed p. pr. & vb. n. Financing.] To conduct the finances of; to provide for, and manage, the capital for; to financier.
"Securing foreign capital to finance multitudinous undertakings." B. H. Chamberlain.

Financialist
Fi•nan´cial•ist, n. A financier.

Financially
Fi•nan´cial•ly, adv. In a financial manner. Burke.

Financier
Fin•an•cier´ ( 277), n. [Cf. F. financier.]
1. One charged with the administration of finance; an officer who administers the public revenue; a treasurer. Burke.
2. One skilled in financial operations; one acquainted with money matters.

Financier
Fin•an•cier´, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Financiered p. pr. & vb. n. Financiering.] To conduct financial operations.

Finback
Fin´back, n. (Zoöl.) Any whale of the genera Sibbaldius, Balaenoptera, and allied genera, of the family Balaenopteridae, characterized by a prominent fin on the back. The common finbacks of the New England coast are Sibbaldius tectirostris and S. tuberosus.

Finbat kite
Fin"bat kite = Eddy kite. [Eng.]

Finched, a. Same as Finchbacked.

Findable
Find´a•ble, a. Capable of being found; discoverable. Fuller.

Finder
Find´er, n. One who, or that which, finds; specifically (Astron.), a small telescope of low power and large field of view, attached to a larger telescope, for the purpose of finding an object more readily.

Finder
Find´er, n. (Micros.) A slide ruled in squares, so as to assist in locating particular points in the field of vision.

Findfault
Find´fault, n. A censurer or caviler. [Obs.]

Findfaulting
Find´fault•ing, a. Apt to censure or cavil; faultfinding; captious. [Obs.] Whitlock.

Finding
Find´ing, n.
1. That which is found, come upon, or provided; esp. ( pl. ), that which a journeyman artisan finds or provides for himself; as tools, trimmings, etc.
"When a man hath been laboring … in the deep mines of knowledge, hath furnished out his findings in all their equipage." Milton.
2. Support; maintenance; that which is provided for one; expence; provision.
3. (Law) The result of a judicial examination or inquiry, especially into some matter of fact; a verdict; as the finding of a jury. Burrill.
"After his friends finding and his rent." Chaucer.

Findy
Fin´dy, a. [AS. finding heavy; cf. Dan. fyndig strong, energetical, fynd strength, energy, emphasis.] Full; heavy; firm; solid; substantial. [Obs.]
"A cold May and a windy Makes the barn fat amd findy." Old Proverb.

Fine (fin), a. [ Compar. Finer superl. Finest.] [F. fin, LL. finus fine, pure, fr. L. finire to finish; cf. finitus, p. p., finished, completed (hence the sense accomplished, perfect.) See Finish, and cf. Finite.]
1. Finished; brought to perfection; refined; hence, free from impurity; excellent; superior; elegant; worthy of admiration; accomplished; beautiful.
"The gain thereof [is better] than fine gold." Prov. iii. 14.
"A cup of wine that’s brisk and fine." Shak.
"Not only the finest gentleman of his time, but one of the finest scholars." Felton.
"To soothe the sick bed of so fine a being [Keats]." Leigh Hunt.
2. Aiming at show or effect; loaded with ornament; overdressed or overdecorated; showy.
"He gratified them with occasional … fine writing." M. Arnold.
3. Nice; delicate; subtle; exquisite; artful; skillful; dexterous.
"The spider’s touch, how exquisitely fine!" Pope.
"The nicest and most delicate touches of satire consist in fine raillery." Dryden.
"He has as fine a hand at picking a pocket as a woman." T. Gray.
4. Not coarse, gross, or heavy; as: (a) Not gross; subtile; thin; tenous.
"The eye standeth in the finer medium and the object in the grosser." Bacon. (b) Not coarse; comminuted; in small particles; as fine sand or flour. (c) Not thick or heavy; slender; filmy; as a fine thread. (d) Thin; attenuate; keen; as a fine edge. (e) Made of fine materials; light; delicate; as fine linen or silk.
5. Having (such) a proportion of pure metal in its composition; as coins nine tenths fine.
6. (Used ironically.)
"Ye have made a fine hand, fellows." Shak. Fine is often compounded with participles and adjectives, modifying them adverbially; a, fine-drawn, fine-featured, fine-grained, fine-spoken, fine-spun, etc. Fine arch (Glass Making), the smaller fritting furnace of a glasshouse. Knight. — Fine arts. See the Note under Art. — Fine cut, fine cut tobacco; a kind of chewing tobacco cut up into shreds. — Fine goods, woven fabrics of fine texture and quality. McElrath. — Fine stuff, lime, or a mixture of lime, plaster, etc., used as material for the finishing coat in plastering. — To sail fine (Naut.), to sail as close to the wind as possible.
Syn. — Fine, Beautiful. When used as a word of praise, fine (being opposed to coarse) denotes no "ordinary thing of its kind." It is not as strong as beautiful, in reference to the single attribute implied in the latter term; but when we speak of a fine woman, we include a greater variety of particulars, viz., all the qualities which become a woman, — breeding, sentiment, tact, etc. The term is equally comprehensive when we speak of a fine garden, landscape, horse, poem, etc.; and, though applied to a great variety of objects, the word has still a very definite sense, denoting a high degree of characteristic excellence.

Fine, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fined (find); p. pr. & vb. n. Fining.] [From Fine, a. ]
1. To make fine; to refine; to purify, to clarify; as to fine gold.
"It hath been fined and refined by … learned men." Hobbes.
2. To make finer, or less coarse, as in bulk, texture, etc.; as. to fine the soil. L. H. Bailey.
3. To change by fine gradations; as (Naut.), to fine down a ship’s lines, to diminish her lines gradually.
"I often sate at home On evenings, watching how they fined themselves With gradual conscience to a perfect night." Browning.

Fine, n. [OE. fin, L. finis end, also in LL., a final agreement or concord between the lord and his vassal; a sum of money paid at the end, so as to make an end of a transaction, suit, or prosecution; mulct; penalty; cf. OF. fin end, settlement, F. fin end. See Finish, and cf. Finance.]
1. End; conclusion; termination; extinction. [Obs.] "To see their fatal fine." Spenser.
"Is this the fine of his fines?" Shak.
2. A sum of money paid as the settlement of a claim, or by way of terminating a matter in dispute; especially, a payment of money imposed upon a party as a punishment for an offense; a mulct.
3. (Law) (a) (Feudal Law) A final agreement concerning lands or rents between persons, as the lord and his vassal. Spelman. (b) (Eng. Law) A sum of money or price paid for obtaining a benefit, favor, or privilege, as for admission to a copyhold, or for obtaining or renewing a lease. Fine for alienation (Feudal Law), a sum of money paid to the lord by a tenant whenever he had occasion to make over his land to another. Burrill. — Fine of lands, a species of conveyance in the form of a fictitious suit compromised or terminated by the acknowledgment of the previous owner that such land was the right of the other party. Burrill. See Concord, n. , 4. — In fine, in conclusion; by way of termination or summing up.

Fine, v. t. [From Fine, n. ] To impose a pecuniary penalty upon for an offense or breach of law; to set a fine on by judgment of a court; to punish by fine; to mulct; as the trespassers were fined ten dollars.

Fine, v. i. To pay a fine. See Fine, n. , 3 (b). [R.]
"Men fined for the king’s good will; or that he would remit his anger; women fined for leave to marry." Hallam.

Fine, v. t. & i. [OF. finer, F. finir. See Finish, v. t.] To finish; to cease; or to cause to cease. [Obs.]

Fine, adv.
1. Finely; well; elegantly; fully; delicately; mincingly. [Obs., Dial., or Colloq.]
2. (Billiards & Pool) In a manner so that the driven ball strikes the object ball so far to one side as to be deflected but little, the object ball being driven to one side.

Fine (fin), v. i. To become fine (in any one of various senses); as the ale will fine; the weather fined. To fineaway, down, off, gradually to become fine; to diminish; to dwindle.
"I watched her [the ship] … gradually fining down in the westward until I lost of her hull." W. C. Russel.

Finedraw
Fine´draw, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Finedrawn p. pr. & vb. n. Finedrawing.] To sew up, so nicely that the seam is not perceived; to renter. Marryat.

Finedrawn
Fine´drawn, a. Drawn out with too much subtilty; overnice; as finedrawn speculations.

Fineer
Fi•neer´, v. i. To run in debt by getting goods made up in a way unsuitable for the use of others, and then threatening not to take them except on credit. [R.] Goldsmith.

Fineer
Fi•neer´, v. t. To veneer.

Fineless
Fine´less, a. [ Fine end + -less.] Endless; boundless. [Obs.] Shak.

Finely
Fine´ly, adv. In a fine or finished manner.

Fineness
Fine´ness, n. [From Fine, a. ]
1. The quality or condition of being fine.
2. Freedom from foreign matter or alloy; clearness; purity; as the fineness of liquor.
"The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion." Shak.
3. The proportion of pure silver or gold in jewelry, bullion, or coins. The fineness of United States coin is nine tenths, that of English gold coin is eleven twelfths, and that of English silver coin is &frac925x1000;.
4. Keenness or sharpness; as the fineness of a needle’s point, or of the edge of a blade.

Finery
Fin´er•y, n.
1. Fineness; beauty. [Obs.]
"Don’t choose your place of study by the finery of the prospects." I. Watts.
2. Ornament; decoration; especially, excecially decoration; showy clothes; jewels.
"Her mistress’ cast-off finery." F. W. Robertson.
3. [Cf. Refinery.] (Iron Works) A charcoal hearth or furnace for the conversion of cast iron into wrought iron, or into iron suitable for puddling.

Finesse
Fi•nesse´, n. [F., fr. fin fine. See Fine, a. ]
1. Subtilty of contrivance to gain a point; artifice; stratagem.
"This is the artificialest piece of finesse to persuade men into slavery." Milton.
2. (Whist Playing) The act of finessing. See Finesse, v. i., 2.

Finesse
Fi•nesse´, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Finessed p. pr. & vb. n. Finessing.]
1. To use artifice or stratagem. Goldsmith.
2. (Whist Playing) To attempt, when second or third player, to make a lower card answer the purpose of a higher, when an intermediate card is out, risking the chance of its being held by the opponent yet to play.

Finestiller
Fine´still•er, n. One who finestills.

Finew
Fin´ew, n. [See Fenowed.] Moldiness. [R.]

Finfoot
Fin´foot, n. (Zoöl.) A South American bird ( Heliornis fulica) allied to the grebes. The name is also applied to several related species of the genus Podica.

Fin-footed
Fin´-foot•ed, a. (Zoöl.) (a) Having palmate feet. (b) Having lobate toes, as the coot and grebe.

Finger
Fin´ger (fin"ger), n. [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.]
1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extremities of the hand, other than the thumb.
2. Anything that does the work of a finger; as the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion.
3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard.
"A piece of steel three fingers thick." Bp. Wilkins.
4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [R.]
"She has a good finger." Busby. Ear finger, the little finger. — Finger alphabet. See Dactylology. - - Finger bar, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play. — Finger board (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual. — Fingerbowl or glass, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table. — Finger flower (Bot.), the foxglove. — Finger grass (Bot.), a kind of grass ( Panicum sanguinale) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See Crab grass, under Crab. — Finger nut, a fly nut or thumb nut. — Finger plate, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks. — Finger post, a guide post bearing an index finger. — Finger reading, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; — so made for the blind. — Finger shell (Zoöl.), a marine shell ( Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form. — Finger sponge (Zoöl.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches. — Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger. — Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier’s knife. To burn one’s fingers. See under Burn. — To have a finger in, to be concerned in. [Colloq.] — To have at one’s fingers’ ends, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.]

Finger
Fin´ger, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fingered p. pr. & vb. n. Fingering.]
1. To touch with the fingers; to handle; to meddle with.
"Let the papers lie; You would be fingering them to anger me." Shak.
2. To touch lightly; to toy with.
3. (Mus.) (a) To perform on an instrument of music. (b) To mark the notes of (a piece of music) so as to guide the fingers in playing.
4. To take thievishly; to pilfer; to purloin. Shak.
5. To execute, as any delicate work.

Finger
Fin´ger, v. i. (Mus.) To use the fingers in playing on an instrument. Busby.

Fingered
Fin´gered, a.
1. Having fingers.
2. (Bot.) Having leaflets like fingers; digitate.
3. (Mus.) Marked with figures designating which finger should be used for each note.

Fingerer
Fin´ger•er, n. One who fingers; a pilferer.

Fingering
Fin´ger•ing, n.
1. The act or process of handling or touching with the fingers.
"The mere sight and fingering of money." Grew.
2. The manner of using the fingers in playing or striking the keys of an instrument of music; movement or management of the fingers in playing on a musical instrument, in typewriting, etc.
3. The marking of the notes of a piece of music to guide or regulate the action or use of the fingers.
4. Delicate work made with the fingers. Spenser.

Fingerling
Fin´ger•ling, n. [ Finger + -ling.] (Zoöl.) A young salmon. See Parr.

Fingrigo
Fin´gri•go, n. ; pl. Fingrigos (#). [So called in Jamaica.] (Bot.) A prickly, climbing shrub of the genus Pisonia. The fruit is a kind of berry.

Finial
Fin´i•al, n. [L. finire to finish, end. See Finish.] (Arch.) The knot or bunch of foliage, or foliated ornament, that forms the upper extremity of a pinnacle in Gothic architecture; sometimes, the pinnacle itself.

Finific
Fi•nif´ic, n. [L. finis end + facere to make.] A limiting element or quality. [R.]
"The essential finific in the form of the finite." Coleridge.

Finify
Fin´i•fy, v. t. [ Fine, a. + -fy.] To make fine; to dress finically. [Obs.]
"Hath so pared and finified them [his feet.]" B. Jonson.

Finikin
Fin´i•kin, a. [ Fine, a. + -kin.] Precise in trifles; idly busy. [Colloq.] Smart.

Fining
Fin´ing, n.
1. The act of imposing a fin.
2. The process of fining or refining; clarification; also (Metal.), the conversion of cast iron into suitable for puddling, in a hearth or charcoal fire.
3. That which is used to refine; especially, a preparation of isinglass, gelatin, etc., for clarifying beer. Fining pot, a vessel in which metals are refined. Prov. xvii. 3.

Finis
Fi´nis, n. [L.] An end; conclusion. It is often placed at the end of a book.

Finish
Fin´ish, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Finished p. pr. & vb. n. Finishing.] [F. finir (with a stem finiss- in several forms, whence E. -ish: see -ish.),fr. L. finire to limit, finish, end, fr. finis boundary, limit, end; perh. for fidnis, and akin findere to cleave, E. fissure.]
1. To arrive at the end of; to bring to an end; to put an end to; to make an end of; to terminate.
"And heroically hath finished A life heroic." Milton.
2. To bestow the last required labor upon; to complete; to bestow the utmost possible labor upon; to perfect; to accomplish; to polish.
Syn. — To end; terminate; close; conclude; complete; accomplish; perfect.

Finish
Fin´ish, v. i.
1. To come to an end; to terminate.
"His days may finish ere that hapless time." Shak.
2. To end; to die. [R.] Shak.

Finish
Fin´ish, n.
1. That which finishes, puts an end to or perfects.
2. (Arch.) The joiner work and other finer work required for the completion of a building, especially of the interior. See Inside finish, and Outside finish.
3. (Fine Arts) (a) The labor required to give final completion to any work; hence, minute detail, careful elaboration, or the like. (b) See Finishing coat, under Finishing.
4. The result of completed labor, as on the surface of an object; manner or style of finishing; as a rough, dead, or glossy finish given to cloth, stone, metal, etc.
5. Completion; — opposed to start, or beginning.

Finisher
Fin´ish•er, n.
1. One who finishes, puts an end to, completes, or perfects; esp. used in the trades, as in hatting, weaving, etc., for the workman who gives a finishing touch to the work, or any part of it, and brings it to perfection.
"O prophet of glad tidings, finisher Of utmost hope!" Milton.
2. Something that gives the finishing touch to, or settles, anything. [Colloq.]

Finishing
Fin´ish•ing, n. The act or process of completing or perfecting; the final work upon or ornamentation of a thing.

Finishing
Fin´ish•ing, a. Tending to complete or to render fit for the market or for use. Finishing coat. (a) (Plastering) the final coat of plastering applied to walls and ceilings, usually white and rubbed smooth. (b) (Painting) The final coat of paint, usually differently mixed applied from the others. — Finishing press, a machine for pressing fabrics. — Finishing rolls (Iron Working), the rolls of a train which receive the bar from roughing rolls, and reduce it to its finished shape. Raymond.

Finite
Fi´nite, a. [L. finitus, p. p. of finire. See Finish, and cf. Fine, a. ] Having a limit; limited in quantity, degree, or capacity; bounded; — opposed to infinite; as finite number; finite existence; a finite being; a finite mind; finite duration.

Finitely
Fi´nite•ly, adv. In a finite manner or degree.

Finiteness
Fi´nite•ness, n. The state of being finite.

Finitude
Fin´i•tude, n. [L. finire. See Finish.] Limitation. Cheyne.

Finlander
Fin´land•er, n. A native or inhabitant of Finland.

Finless
Fin´less, a. (Zoöl.) destitute of fins.

Finlet
Fin´let, n. [ Fin + - let.] A little fin; one of the parts of a divided fin.

Finlike
Fin´like, a. Resembling a fin.

Finn, a. A native of Finland; one of the Finn in the ethnological sense. See Finns.

Finner
Fin´ner, n. (Zoöl.) A finback whale.

Finnic
Finn´ic, a. Of or pertaining to the Finns.

Finnikin
Fin´ni•kin, n. (Zoöl.) A variety of pigeon, with a crest somewhat resembling the mane of a horse. [Written also finikin.]

Finnish
Finn´ish, a. Of or pertaining to Finland, to the Finns, or to their language. — n. A Northern Turanian group of languages; the language of the Finns.

Finns, n. pl.; sing. Finn. (Ethnol.) (a) Natives of Finland; Finlanders. (b) A branch of the Mongolian race, inhabiting Northern and Eastern Europe, including the Magyars, Bulgarians, Permians, Lapps, and Finlanders. [Written also Fins.]

Finny
Fin´ny, a.
1. (Zoöl.) Having, or abounding in, fins, as fishes; pertaining to fishes.
2. Abounding in fishes.
"With patient angle trolls the finny deep." Goldsmoth.

Finochio
Fi•no´chi•o ( 277), n. [It. finocchio fennel, LL. fenuclum. See Fennel.] (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant ( Fœniculum dulce) having a somewhat tuberous stem; sweet fennel. The blanched stems are used in France and Italy as a culinary vegetable.

Finpike
Fin´pike, n. (Zoöl.) The bichir. See Crossopterygii.

Fint, 3d pers. sing. pr. of Find, for findeth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fiord (fyrd; i or y consonant, § 272), n. [Dan. & Norw. fiord. See Frith.] A narrow inlet of the sea, penetrating between high banks or rocks, as on the coasts of Norway and Alaska. [Written also fjord.]

Fiorite
Fi´o•rite, n. (Min.) A variety of opal occuring in the cavities of volcanic tufa, in smooth and shining globular and botryoidal masses, having a pearly luster; - - so called from Fiora, in Ischia.

Fioriture
Fio•ri•tu´re, n. pl. [It., pl. of fioritura a flowering.] (Mus.) Little flowers of ornament introduced into a melody by a singer or player.

Fippenny bit
Fip"pen•ny bit . [Corruption of five penny bit.] The Spanish half real, or one sixteenth of a dollar, - - so called in Pennsylvania and the adjacent States. [Obs.] Before the act of Congress, Feb. 21, 1857, caused the adoption of decimal coins and the withdrawal of foreign coinage from circulation, this coin passed currently for 6¼ cents, and was called in New England a fourpence ha’penny or fourpence; in New York a sixpence; in Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc., a fip; and in Louisiana, a picayune.

Fipple
Fip´ple (fer), n. [perh. fr. L. fibula a clasp, a pin; cf. Prov. E. fible a stick used to stir pottage.] A stopper, as in a wind instrument of music. [Obs.] Bacon.

Fir (fer), n. [Dan. fyr, fyrr; akin to Sw. furu, Icel. fura, AS. furh in furhwudu fir wood, G. föhre, OHG. forha pine, vereheih a sort of oak, L. quercus oak.] (Bot.) A genus ( Abies) of coniferous trees, often of large size and elegant shape, some of them valued for their timber and others for their resin. The species are distinguished as the balsam fir, the silver fir, the red fir, etc. The Scotch fir is a Pinus. Fir in the Bible means any one of several coniferous trees, including, cedar, cypress, and probably three species of pine. J. D. Hooker.

Fir tree
Fir" tree See Fir.

Fire beetle
Fire" bee•tle (Zoöl.) A very brilliantly luminous beetle ( Pyrophorus noctilucus), one of the elaters, found in Central and South America; — called also cucujo. The name is also applied to other species. See Firefly.

Fireback
Fire´back, n. (Zoöl.) One of several species of pheasants of the genus Euplocamus, having the lower back a bright, fiery red. They inhabit Southern Asia and the East Indies.

Fireball
Fire´ball, n. (a) (Mil.) A ball filled with powder or other combustibles, intended to be thrown among enemies, and to injure by explosion; also to set fire to their works and light them up, so that movements may be seen. (b) A luminous meteor, resembling a ball of fire passing rapidly through the air, and sometimes exploding.

Fireball
Fire´ball, n. Ball, or globular, lightning.

Firebare
Fire´bare, n. A beacon. [Obs.] Burrill.

Firebird
Fire´bird, n. (Zoöl.) The Baltimore oriole.

Fireboard
Fire´board, n. A chimney board or screen to close a fireplace when not in use.

Firebote
Fire´bote, n. (O. Eng. Law) An allowance of fuel. See Bote.

Firecracker
Fire´crack•er, n. See Cracker., n. , 3.

Firedog
Fire´dog, n. A support for wood in a fireplace; an andiron.

Firedrake
Fire´drake, n. [AS. fyrdraca; fyr fire + draca a dragon. See Fire, and Drake a dragon.] [Obs.]
1. A fiery dragon. Beau. & Fl.
2. A fiery meteor; an ignis fatuus; a rocket.
3. A worker at a furnace or fire. B. Jonson.

Firefish
Fire´fish, n. (Zoöl.) A singular marine fish of the genus Pterois, family Scorpaenidae, of several species, inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region. They are usually red, and have very large spinose pectoral and dorsal fins.

Fireflaire
Fire´flaire, n. [ Fire + Prov. E. flaire a ray.] (Zoöl.) A European sting ray of the genus Trygon ( T. pastinaca); — called also fireflare and fiery flaw.

Fireflame
Fire´flame, n. (Zoöl.) The European band fish ( Cepola rubescens).

Firefly
Fire´fly, n. ; pl. Fireflies . (Zoöl.) Any luminous winged insect, esp. luminous beetles of the family Lampyridae. The common American species belong to the genera Photinus and Photuris, in which both sexes are winged. The name is also applied to luminous species of Elateridae. See Fire beetle.

Firelock
Fire´lock, n. An old form of gunlock, as the flintlock, which ignites the priming by a spark; perhaps originally, a matchlock. Hence, a gun having such a lock.

Fireman
Fire´man, n. ; pl. Firemen (-m en).
1. A man whose business is to extinguish fires in towns; a member of a fire company.
2. A man who tends the fires, as of a steam engine; a stocker.

Fire-new
Fire´-new, a. Fresh from the forge; bright; quite new; brand-new. Charles reade.
"Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current." Shak.

Fireplace
Fire´place, n. The part a chimney appropriated to the fire; a hearth; — usually an open recess in a wall, in which a fire may be built.

Fireproof
Fire´proof, a. Proof against fire; incombustible.

Fireproofing
Fire´proof•ing, n. The act or process of rendering anything incombustible; also the materials used in the process.

Firer
Fir´er, n. One who fires or sets fire to anything; an incendiary. [R.] R. Carew.

Fireroom
Fire´room, n. Same as Stokehold, below.

Fireside
Fire´side, n. A place near the fire or hearth; home; domestic life or retirement.

Firestone
Fire´stone ( 110), n. [AS. fyrstan flint; fyr fire + stan stone.]
1. Iron pyrites, formerly used for striking fire; also a flint.
2. A stone which will bear the heat of a furnace without injury; — especially applied to the sandstone at the top of the upper greensand in the south of England, used for lining kilns and furnaces. Ure.

Firetail
Fire´tail, n. (Zoöl.) The European redstart; — called also fireflirt. [prov. Eng.]

Firewarden
Fire´ward•en, n. An officer who has authority to direct in the extinguishing of fires, or to order what precautions shall be taken against fires; — called also fireward.

Fireweed
Fire´weed, n. (Bot.) (a) An American plant ( Erechthites hiercifolia), very troublesome in spots where brushwood has been burned. (b) The great willow-herb ( Epilobium spicatum).

Firewood
Fire´wood, n. Wood for fuel.

Firework
Fire´work, n.
1. A device for producing a striking display of light, or a figure or figures in plain or colored fire, by the combustion of materials that burn in some peculiar manner, as gunpowder, sulphur, metallic filings, and various salts. The most common feature of fireworks is a paper or pasteboard tube filled with the combustible material. A number of these tubes or cases are often combined so as to make, when kindled, a great variety of figures in fire, often variously colored. The skyrocket is a common form of firework. The name is also given to various combustible preparations used in war. [1913 Webster]
2. pl. A pyrotechnic exhibition. [Obs. in the sing.]
"Night before last, the Duke of Richmond gave a firework." Walpole.

Fireworm
Fire´worm, n. (Zoöl.) The larva of a small tortricid moth which eats the leaves of the cranberry, so that the vines look as if burned; — called also cranberry worm.

Firing
Fir´ing, n.
1. The act of discharging firearms.
2. The mode of introducing fuel into the furnace and working it. Knight.
3. The application of fire, or of a cautery. Dunglison.
4. The process of partly vitrifying pottery by exposing it to intense heat in a kiln.
5. Fuel; firewood or coal. [Obs.] Mortimer. Firing iron, an instrument used in cauterizing.

Firing pin
Fir"ing pin. In the breech mechanism of a firearm, the pin which strikes the head of the cartridge and explodes it.

Firk, v. t. [Cf. OE. ferken to proceed, hasten, AS. fercian to bring, assist; perh. akin to faran to go, E. fare.] To beat; to strike; to chastise. [Obs.]
"I’ll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him." Shak.

Firk, v. i. To fly out; to turn out; to go off. [Obs.]
"A wench is a rare bait, with which a man"
"No sooner’s taken but he straight firks mad.B.Jonson."

Firk, n. A freak; trick; quirk. [Obs.] Ford.

Firkin
Fir´kin, n. [From AS. feówer four (or an allied word, perh. Dutch or Danish) + -kin. See Four.]
1. A varying measure of capacity, usually being the fourth part of a barrel; specifically, a measure equal to nine imperial gallons. [Eng.]
2. A small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size, — used for butter, lard, etc. [U.S.]

Firman
Fir´man, n. ; pl. Firmans (#) or (#). [Pers. ferman.] In Turkey and some other Oriental countries, a decree or mandate issued by the sovereign; a royal order or grant; — generally given for special objects, as to a traveler to insure him protection and assistance. [Written also firmaun.]

Firmer-chisel
Firm´er-chis´el, n. A chisel, thin in proportion to its width. It has a tang to enter the handle instead of a socket for receiving it. Knight.

Firmitude
Firm´i•tude, n. [L. firmitudo. See Firm.] Strength; stability. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Firmless
Firm´less, a.
1. Detached from substance. [Obs.]
"Does passion still the firmless mind control?" Pope.
2. Infirm; unstable. "Firmless sands." Sylvester.

Firmly
Firm´ly, adv. In a firm manner.

Firmness
Firm´ness, n. The state or quality of being firm.
Syn. — Firmness, Constancy. Firmness belongs to the will, and constancy to the affections and principles; the former prevents us from yielding, and the latter from fluctuating. Without firmness a man has no character; "without constancy," says Addison, "there is neither love, friendship, nor virtue in the world."

First, a. [OE. first, furst, AS. fyrst; akin to Icel. fyrstr, Sw. & Dan. förste, OHG. furist, G. fürst prince; a superlatiye form of E. for, fore. See For, Fore, and cf. Formeer, Foremost.]
1. Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest; as the first day of a month; the first year of a reign.
2. Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.
3. Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece. At first blush. See under Blush. — At first hand, from the first or original source; without the intervention of any agent.
"It is the intention of the person to reveal it at first hand, by way of mouth, to yourself." Dickens. — First coat (Plastering), the solid foundation of coarse stuff, on which the rest is placed; it is thick, and crossed with lines, so as to give a bond for the next coat. — First day, Sunday; — so called by the Friends. — First floor. (a) The ground floor. [U.S.] (b) The floor next above the ground floor. [Eng.] — Firstfruit or fruits. (a) The fruits of the season earliest gathered. (b) (Feudal Law) One year’s profits of lands belonging to the king on the death of a tenant who held directly from him. (c) (Eng. Eccl. Law) The first year’s whole profits of a benefice or spiritual living. (d) The earliest effects or results.
"See, Father, what first fruits on earth are sprung From thy implanted grace in man!" Milton. — First mate, an officer in a merchant vessel next in rank to the captain. — First name, same as Christian name. See under Name, n. — First officer (Naut.), in the merchant service, same as First mate (above). — First sergeant (Mil.), the ranking non-commissioned officer in a company; the orderly sergeant. Farrow. — First watch (Naut.), the watch from eight to twelve at midnight; also the men on duty during that time. — First water, the highest quality or purest luster; — said of gems, especially of diamond and pearls.
Syn. — Primary; primordial; primitive; primeval; pristine; highest; chief; principal; foremost.

First, adv. Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; — much used in composition with adjectives and participles.
"Adam was first formed, then Eve." 1 Tim. ii. 13.At first, At the first, at the beginning or origin. — First or last, at one time or another; at the beginning or end.
"And all are fools and lovers first or last." Dryden.

First, n. (Mus.) The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; — so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a preëminence in the combined effect.

Firstborn
First´born, a. First brought forth; first in the order of nativity; eldest; hence, most excellent; most distinguished or exalted.

First-class
First´-class, a. Of the best class; of the highest rank; in the first division; of the best quality; first-rate; as a first-class telescope. First-class car or First-class railway carriage, any passenger car of the highest regular class, and intended for passengers who pay the highest regular rate; — distinguished from a second-class car.

First-hand
First´-hand, a. Obtained directly from the first or original source; hence, without the intervention of an agent.
"One sphere there is … where the apprehension of him is first-hand and direct; and that is the sphere of our own mind." J. Martineau.

Firstling
First´ling, n. [ First + - ling.]
1. The first produce or offspring; — said of animals, especially domestic animals; as the firstlings of his flock. Milton.
2. The thing first thought or done.
"The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand." Shak.

Firstling
First´ling, a. Firstborn.
"All the firstling males." Deut. xv. 19.

Firstly
First´ly, adv. In the first place; before anything else; — sometimes improperly used for first.

First-rate
First´-rate, a. Of the highest excellence; preëminent in quality, size, or estimation.
"Our only first-rate body of contemporary poetry is the German." M. Arnold.
"Hermocrates … a man of first-rate ability." Jowett (Thucyd).

First-rate
First´-rate, n. (Naut.) A war vessel of the highest grade or the most powerful class.

Firth, n. [Scot. See Frith.] (geog.) An arm of the sea; a frith.

Fisetic
Fi•set´ic, a. (Chem.) Pertaining to fustet or fisetin.

Fisetin
Fis´e•tin, n. [G. fisettholz a species of fustic.] (Chem.) A yellow crystalline substance extracted from fustet, and regarded as its essential coloring principle; — called also fisetic acid.

Fish, n. [F. fiche peg, mark, fr. fisher to fix.] A counter, used in various games.

Fish, n. ; pl. Fishes (#), or collectively, Fish. [OE. fisch, fisc, fis, AS. fisc; akin to D. visch, OS. & OHG. fisk, G. fisch, Icel. fiskr, Sw. & Dan. fisk, Goth. fisks, L. piscis, Ir. iasg. Cf. Piscatorial. In some cases, such as fish joint, fish plate, this word has prob. been confused with fish, fr. F. fichea peg.]
1. A name loosely applied in popular usage to many animals of diverse characteristics, living in the water.
2. (Zoöl.) An oviparous, vertebrate animal usually having fins and a covering scales or plates. It breathes by means of gills, and lives almost entirely in the water. See Pisces. The true fishes include the Teleostei (bony fishes), Ganoidei, Dipnoi, and Elasmobranchii or Selachians (sharks and skates). Formerly the leptocardia and Marsipobranciata were also included, but these are now generally regarded as two distinct classes, below the fishes.
3. pl. The twelfth sign of the zodiac; Pisces.
4. The flesh of fish, used as food.
5. (Naut.) (a) A purchase used to fish the anchor. (b) A piece of timber, somewhat in the form of a fish, used to strengthen a mast or yard. Fish is used adjectively or as part of a compound word; as fish line, fish pole, fish spear, fish-bellied. Age of Fishes. See under Age, n. , 8. — Fish ball, fish (usually salted codfish) shared fine, mixed with mashed potato, and made into the form of a small, round cake. [U.S.] — Fish bar. Same as Fish plate (below). — Fish beam (Mech.), a beam one of whose sides (commonly the under one) swells out like the belly of a fish. Francis. — Fish crow (Zoöl.), a species of crow ( Corvus ossifragus), found on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It feeds largely on fish. — Fish culture, the artifical breeding and rearing of fish; pisciculture. — Fish davit. See Davit. — Fish day, a day on which fish is eaten; a fast day. — Fish duck (Zoöl.), any species of merganser. — Fish fall, the tackle depending from the fish davit, used in hauling up the anchor to the gunwale of a ship. — Fish garth, a dam or weir in a river for keeping fish or taking them easily. - - Fish glue. See Isinglass. — Fish joint, a joint formed by a plate or pair of plates fastened upon two meeting beams, plates, etc., at their junction; — used largely in connecting the rails of railroads. — Fish kettle, a long kettle for boiling fish whole. — Fish ladder, a dam with a series of steps which fish can leap in order to ascend falls in a river. — Fish line, or Fishing line, a line made of twisted hair, silk, etc., used in angling. — Fish louse (Zoöl.), any crustacean parasitic on fishes, esp. the parasitic Copepoda, belonging to Caligus, Argulus, and other related genera. See Branchiura. — Fish maw (Zoöl.), the stomach of a fish; also the air bladder, or sound. — Fish meal, fish desiccated and ground fine, for use in soups, etc. — Fish oil, oil obtained from the bodies of fish and marine animals, as whales, seals, sharks, from cods’ livers, etc. — Fish owl (Zoöl.), a fish-eating owl of the Old World genera Scotopelia and Ketupa, esp. a large East Indian species ( K. Ceylonensis). — Fish plate, one of the plates of a fish joint. — Fish pot, a wicker basket, sunk, with a float attached, for catching crabs, lobsters, etc. — Fish pound, a net attached to stakes, for entrapping and catching fish; a weir. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett. — Fish slice, a broad knife for dividing fish at table; a fish trowel. — Fish slide, an inclined box set in a stream at a small fall, or ripple, to catch fish descending the current. Knight. — Fish sound, the air bladder of certain fishes, esp. those that are dried and used as food, or in the arts, as for the preparation of isinglass. — Fish story, a story which taxes credulity; an extravagant or incredible narration. [Colloq. U.S.] Bartlett. — Fish strainer. (a) A metal colander, with handles, for taking fish from a boiler. (b) A perforated earthenware slab at the bottom of a dish, to drain the water from a boiled fish. — Fish trowel, a fish slice. — Fishweir or wear, a weir set in a stream, for catching fish. — Neither fish nor flesh (Fig.), neither one thing nor the other.

Fish, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fished p. pr. & vb. n. Fishing.]
1. To attempt to catch fish; to be employed in taking fish, by any means, as by angling or drawing a net.
2. To seek to obtain by artifice, or indirectly to seek to draw forth; as to fish for compliments.
"Any other fishing question." Sir W. Scott.

Fish, v. t. [OE. fischen, fisken, fissen, AS. fiscian; akin to G. fischen, OHG. fiscn, Goth. fiskn. See Fish the animal.]
1. To catch; to draw out or up; as to fish up an anchor.
2. To search by raking or sweeping. Swift.
3. To try with a fishing rod; to catch fish in; as to fish a stream. Thackeray.
4. To strengthen (a beam, mast, etc.), or unite end to end (two timbers, railroad rails, etc.) by bolting a plank, timber, or plate to the beam, mast, or timbers, lengthwise on one or both sides. See Fish joint, under Fish, n. To fish the anchor. (Naut.) See under Anchor.

Fish-block
Fish´-block, n. See Fish- tackle.

Fisherman
Fish´er•man, n. ; pl. Fishermen .
1. One whose occupation is to catch fish.
2. (Naut.) A ship or vessel employed in the business of taking fish, as in the cod fishery.

Fishery
Fish´er•y, n. ; pl. Fisheries .
1. The business or practice of catching fish; fishing. Addison.
2. A place for catching fish.
3. (Law) The right to take fish at a certain place, or in particular waters. Abbott.

Fishful
Fish´ful, a. Abounding with fish. [R.] "My fishful pond." R. Carew.

Fishgig
Fish´gig, n. A spear with barbed prongs used for harpooning fish. Knight.

Fishhawk
Fish´hawk, n. (Zoöl.) The osprey ( Pandion haliaëtus), found both in Europe and America; — so called because it plunges into the water and seizes fishes in its talons. Called also fishing eagle, and bald buzzard.

Fishhook
Fish´hook, n.
1. A hook for catching fish.
2. (Naut.) A hook with a pendant, to the end of which the fish-tackle is hooked. Dana.

Fishify
Fish´i•fy, v. t. To change to fish. [R.] Shak.

Fishiness
Fish´i•ness, n. The state or quality of being fishy or fishlike. Pennant.

Fishing
Fish´ing, n.
1. The act, practice, or art of one who fishes.
2. A fishery. Spenser.

Fishing
Fish´ing, a. [From Fishing, n. ] Pertaining to fishing; used in fishery; engaged in fishing; as fishing boat; fishing tackle; fishing village. Fishing fly, an artificial fly for fishing. — Fishing line, a line used in catching fish. — Fishing net, a net of various kinds for catching fish; including the bag net, casting net, drag net, landing net, seine, shrimping net, trawl, etc. — Fishing rod, a long slender rod, to which is attached the line for angling. — Fishing smack, a sloop or other small vessel used in sea fishing. — Fishing tackle, apparatus used in fishing, as hook, line, rod, etc. — Fishing tube (Micros.), a glass tube for selecting a microscopic object in a fluid.

Fishmonger
Fish´mon•ger, n. A dealer in fish.

Fishskin
Fish´skin, n.
1. The skin of a fish (dog fish, shark, etc.)
2. (Med.) See Ichthyosis.

Fish-tail
Fish´-tail, a. Like the of a fish; acting, or producing something, like the tail of a fish. Fish-tail burner, a gas burner that gives a spreading flame shaped somewhat like the tail of a fish. — Fish-tail propeller (Steamship), a propeller with a single blade that oscillates like the tail of a fish when swimming.

Fishwife
Fish´wife, n. A fishwoman.

Fishwoman
Fish´wom•an, n. ; pl. Fishwomen . A woman who retails fish.

Fishy
Fish´y, a.
1. Consisting of fish; fishlike; having the qualities or taste of fish; abounding in fish. Pope.
2. Extravagant, like some stories about catching fish; improbable; also rank or foul. [Colloq.]

Fisk, v. i. [Cf. Sw. fjeska to bustle about.] To run about; to frisk; to whisk. [Obs.]
"He fisks abroad, and stirreth up erroneous opinions." Latimer.

Fissigemmation
Fis•si•gem•ma´tion, n. [L. fissus (p. p. of findere to split) + E. gemmation.] (Biol.) A process of reproduction intermediate between fission and gemmation.

Fissile
Fis´sile, a. [L. fissilis, fr. fissus, p. p. of findere to split. See Fissure.] Capable of being split, cleft, or divided in the direction of the grain, like wood, or along natural planes of cleavage, like crystals.
"This crystal is a pellucid, fissile stone." Sir I. Newton.

Fissilinguia
Fis•si•lin´gui•a, n. pl. [NL., fr. L. fissus (p. p. o f findere to split) + lingua tongue.] (Zoöl.) A group of Lacertilia having the tongue forked, including the common lizards. [Written also Fissilingues.]

Fissility
Fis•sil´i•ty, n. Quality of being fissile.

Fission
Fis´sion, n. [L. fissio. See Fissure.]
1. A cleaving, splitting, or breaking up into parts.
2. (Biol.) A method of asexual reproduction among the lowest (unicellular) organisms by means of a process of self-division, consisting of gradual division or cleavage of the into two parts, each of which then becomes a separate and independent organisms; as when a cell in an animal or plant, or its germ, undergoes a spontaneous division, and the parts again subdivide. See Segmentation, and Cell division, under Division.
3. (Zoöl.) A process by which certain coral polyps, echinoderms, annelids, etc., spontaneously subdivide, each individual thus forming two or more new ones. See Strobilation.

Fissiparous
Fis•sip´a•rous, a. [L. fissus (p. p. of findere to split) + parere to bring forth: cf. F. fissipare.] (Biol.) Reproducing by spontaneous fission. See Fission. — Fis•sip´a•rous•ly, adv.

Fissipedia
Fis•si•pe´di•a, n. pl. [NL., fr. L. fissus (p. p. of findere to cleave) + pes, pedis, a foot.] (Zoöl.) A division of the Carnivora, including the dogs, cats, and bears, in which the feet are not webbed; — opposed to Pinnipedia.

Fissirostral
Fis•si•ros´tral, a. [Cf. F. fissirostre.] (Zoöl.) Having the bill cleft beyond the horny part, as in the case of swallows and goatsuckers.

Fissirostres
Fis•si•ros´tres, n. pl. [NL., fr. L. fissus (p. p. of findere to cleave) + rostrum beak.] (Zoöl.) A group of birds having the bill deeply cleft.

Fissural
Fis´sur•al, a. Pertaining to a fissure or fissures; as the fissural pattern of a brain.

Fissuration
Fis•su•ra´tion, n. (Anat.) The act of dividing or opening; the state of being fissured.

Fissure
Fis´sure, n. [L. fissura, fr. findere, fissum, to cleave, split; akin to E. bite: cf. F. fissure.] A narrow opening, made by the parting of any substance; a cleft; as the fissure of a rock. Cerebral fissures (Anat.), the furrows or clefts by which the surface of the cerebrum is divided; esp., the furrows first formed by the infolding of the whole wall of the cerebrum. — Fissure needle (Surg.), a spiral needle for catching together the gaping lips of wounds. Knight. — Fissure of rolando (Anat.), the furrow separating the frontal from the parietal lobe in the cerebrum. — Fissure of Sylvius (Anat.), a deep cerebral fissure separating the frontal from the temporal lobe. See Illust. under Brain. — Fissure vein (Mining), a crack in the earth’s surface filled with mineral matter. Raymond.

Fissure
Fis´sure, v. t. To cleave; to divide; to crack or fracture.

Fissurella
Fis•su•rel´la, n. [NL., dim. of L. fissura a fissure.] (Zoöl.) A genus of marine gastropod mollusks, having a conical or limpetlike shell, with an opening at the apex; — called also keyhole limpet.

Fist (fist), n. [OE. fist, fust, AS. fyst; akin to D. vuist, OHG. fust, G. faust, and prob. to L. pugnus, Gr. pygmh• fist, py•x with the fist. Cf. Pugnacious, Pigmy.]
1. The hand with the fingers doubled into the palm; the closed hand, especially as clinched tightly for the purpose of striking a blow.
"Who grasp the earth and heaven with my fist." Herbert.
2. The talons of a bird of prey. [Obs.]
"More light than culver in the falcon’s fist." Spenser.
3. (print.) the index mark [], used to direct special attention to the passage which follows. Hand over fist (Naut.), rapidly; hand over hand.

Fist, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fisting.]
1. To strike with the fist. Dryden.
2. To gripe with the fist. [Obs.] Shak.

Fistinut
Fis´ti•nut, n. [Cf. Fr. fistinq, fistuq. See Pistachio.] A pistachio nut. [Obs.] Johnson.

Fistula
Fis´tu•la ( 135), n. ; pl. Fistulae (#). [L.]
1. A reed; a pipe.
2. A pipe for convejing water. [Obs.] Knight.
3. (Med.) A permanent abnormal opening into the soft parts with a constant discharge; a deep, narrow, chronic abscess; an abnormal opening between an internal cavity and another cavity or the surface; as a salivary fistula; an anal fistula; a recto-vaginal fistula. Incomplete fistula (Med.), a fistula open at one end only.

Fistular
Fis´tu•lar, a. [L. fistularis: cf. F. fistulaire.] Hollow and cylindrical, like a pipe or reed. Johnson.

Fistularia
Fis•tu•la´ri•a, n. [NL., fr. L. fistula pipe.] (Zoöl.) A genus of fishes, having the head prolonged into a tube, with the mouth at the extremity.

Fistularioid
Fis•tu•la´ri•oid, a. [ Fistularia + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the genus Fistularia.

Fistulate
Fis´tu•late ( 135), v. t. & i. [Cf. L. fistulatus furnished with pipes.] To make hollow or become hollow like a fistula, or pipe. [Obs.] "A fistulated ulcer." Fuller.

Fistule
Fis´tule ( 135), n. A fistula.

Fistuliform
Fis´tu•li•form, a. [ Fistula + -form.] Of a fistular form; tubular; pipe-shaped.
"Stalactite often occurs fistuliform." W. Philips.

Fistulose
Fis´tu•lose ( 135), a. [L. fistulosus.] Formed like a fistula; hollow; reedlike. Craig.

Fistulous
Fis´tu•lous, a. [Cf. F. fistuleux.]
1. Having the form or nature of a fistula; as a fistulous ulcer.
2. Hollow, like a pipe or reed; fistulose. Lindley.