Fleur-de-lis.
Fleur-de-lis, flōōr′-de-lē′,n.the flower of the lily: (her.) a bearing explained as representing three flowers of the white lily joined together, or the white iris—commonly calledFlower-de-luce:—pl.Fleurs′-de-lis′—the arms of the Bourbons and of France.—ns.Fleur′et, an ornament like a small flower: a fencing-foil;Fleur′y(her.), decorated with a fleur-de-lis, or with the upper part only. [Fr.,lisbeing for L.lilium, a lily.]
Flew, flōō,pa.t.ofFly.
Flewed, flōōd,adj.(Shak.) having large chops (of dogs). [Ety. unknown.]
Flexible, fleks′i-bl,Flexile,fleks′il,adj.easily bent: pliant: docile.—v.t.Flex, to bend or make a flexure of.—adjs.Flexan′imous, influencing the mind;Flexed, bent.—ns.Flex′ibleness,Flexibil′ity, pliancy: easiness to be persuaded.—adv.Flex′ibly.—ns.Flex′ion,Flec′tion, a bend: a fold: the action of a flexor muscle;Flex′or, a muscle which bends a joint, as opposed toExtensor.—adjs.Flex′ūous,Flex′ūose, of windings and turnings: variable.—n.Flex′ūre, a bend or turning: (math.) the curving of a line or surface: the bending of loaded beams: (Shak.) obsequious bowing. [L.flexibilis,flexilis—flectĕre,flexum, to bend.]
Fley,Flay, flā,v.t.to cause to fly: to frighten.—v.i.to be frightened. [M. E.flayen—A.S.flégan,fléogan, to fly; Ice.fleyja, Goth.flaugjan.]
Flibbertigibbet, flib′er-ti-jib′et,n.a flighty person: an imp. [Most prob. jargon.]
Flick, flik,v.t.to strike lightly.—n.a flip.
Flicker, flik′ėr,v.i.to flutter and move the wings, as a bird: to burn unsteadily, as a flame.—n.an act of flickering, a flickering movement.—v.i.Flicht′er, (Scot.), to flutter, quiver.—adv.Flick′eringly. [A.S.flicorian; imit.]
Flier,Flyer, flī′ėr,n.one who flies or flees: a part of a machine with rapid motion.
Flight, flīt,n.a passing through the air: a soaring: excursion: a sally: a series of steps: a flock of birds flying together: the birds produced in the same season: a volley or shower: act of fleeing: hasty removal.—adj.Flight′ed(Milt.), flying.—adv.Flight′ily.—n.Flight′iness.—adj.Flight′y, fanciful: changeable: giddy. [A.S.flyht—fléogan.]
Flim-flam, flim′-flam,n.a trick. [Formed likeskimble-skamble,whim-wham, &c.]
Flimp, flimp,v.t.(slang) to snatch a watch while a confederate prods the victim in the back.
Flimsy, flim′zi,adj.thin: without solidity, strength, or reason: weak.—n.transfer-paper: (slang) a bank-note: reporters' copy written on thin paper.—adv.Flim′sily, in a flimsy manner.—n.Flim′siness. [First in 18th century. Prob. an onomatopœic formation suggested byfilm.]
Flinch, flinsh,v.i.to shrink back: to fail.—ns.Flinch′er;Flinch′ing, the act of flinching or shrinking.—adv.Flinch′ingly. [M. E.flecchen—O. Fr.fléchir, prob. from L.flectĕre, to bend.]
Flinder, flin′der,n.a splinter or small fragment—usually inpl.[Norw.flindra, a splinter.]
Flindersia, flin-der′si-a,n.a genus of Australian and African trees, yielding African and Madeira mahogany, or Calcedra wood. [From the Australian explorer, Captain MatthewFlinders, 1774-1814.]
Fling, fling,v.t.to strike or throw from the hand: to dart: to send forth: to scatter: to throw (of a horse).—v.i.to act in a violent and irregular manner: to kick out with the legs: to upbraid: to sneer:—pr.p.fling′ing;pa.t.andpa.p.flung.—n.a cast or throw: a taunt: complete freedom, full enjoyment of pleasure: a lively Scotch country-dance.—Fling out, to speak or act recklessly.—Full fling, at the utmost speed, recklessly. [Ice.flengja; Sw.flänga.]
Flint, flint,n.a hard mineral, a variety of quartz, from which fire is readily struck with steel: anything proverbially hard.—adj.made of flint, hard.—n.Flint′-glass, a very fine and pure kind of glass, so called because originally made of calcined flints.—adjs.Flint′-heart,-ed(Shak.), having a hard heart.—v.t.Flint′ify, to turn to flint.—ns.Flint′iness;Flint′-lock, a gun-lock having a flint fixed in the hammer for striking fire and igniting the priming.—adj.Flint′y, consisting of or like flint: hard: cruel.—Flint implements, arrow, axe, and spear heads, &c. made by man before the use of metals, commonly found in prehistoric graves, &c. [A.S.flint; Dan.flint; Gr.plinthos, a brick.]
Flip, flip,n.a hot drink of beer and spirits sweetened.
Flip, flip,v.t.to fillip, to touch lightly: to toss up with a motion of the thumb.—v.i.to flap.—n.a fillip, a snap.—adv.Flip′-flap, with a repeated flapping movement.—n.a coster's dance: a form of somersault: a cracker.—ns.Flip′-flop, the sound of a regular footfall;Flip′per, a fin: (slang) hand.—adj.Flip′perty-flop′perty, that goes flip-flap, loose, dangling. [Attenuated fromflap.]
Flipe, flīp,v.t.to fold back, as a sleeve. [Prob. Scand.; cf. Dan.flip, a flap.]
Flippant, flip′ant,adj.quick and pert of speech: thoughtless.—ns.Flipp′ancy,Flipp′antness, pert fluency of speech: pertness.—adv.Flipp′antly. [Skeat explains as forflipp-and(Old Northumbrianpr.p.ending)—Ice.fleipa, to prattle.]
Flirt, flėrt,v.t.to move about quickly like a fan, to flick, rap.—v.i.to trifle with love: to play at courtship: to move briskly about.—n.a pert, giddy girl: one who coquets for amusement, usually of a woman.—n.Flirtā′tionthe act of flirting.—adj.Flirtā′tious(coll.), giving to flirting.—ns.Flirt′-gill(Shak.), a pert or wanton woman;Flirt′ing.—adv.Flirt′ingly, in a flirting manner.—adj.Flirt′ish, betokening a flirt. [Onomatopœic, likeflick,flip,flirk(a jerk),spurt,squirt.]
Flisk, flisk,v.i.(Scot.) to skip or caper about: to fret at the yoke.—n.a whim: a large-tooth comb.—adj.Flisk′y. [Onomatopœic.]
Flit, flit,v.i.to flutter on the wing: to fly quickly: to be unsteady or easily moved: (Scot.) to remove from place to place:—pr.p.flit′ting;pa.p.flit′ted.—n.Flit′ting, a removal from one house to another: a wandering. [Ice.flytja; Sw.flytta.]
Flitch, flich,n.the side of a hog salted and cured. [A.S.flicce; Ice.flikki.]
Flitter, flit′ėr,v.i.to flutter.—n.Flitt′er-mouse, a bat.
Flittern, flit′ern,n.(prov.) a young oak.
Flitters, flit′ers,n.pl.fragments, tatters.
Flix, fliks,n.fur, beaver-down.
Float, flōt,v.i.to swim on a liquid: to be buoyed up: to move lightly and irregularly: to circulate, as a rumour: to drift about aimlessly.—v.t.to cause to swim: to cover with water: to set agoing.—n.anything swimming on water: a raft: the cork or quill on a fishing-line: a plasterer's trowel.—adj.Float′able.—ns.Float′age,Flot′age, the floating capacity of a thing: anything that floats;Float′-board, a board on the rim of an undershot water-wheel on which the water acts and moves the wheel;Float′er.—adj.Float′ing, swimming: not fixed: circulating.—n.action of the verbfloat: the spreading of plaster on the surface of walls.—ns.Float′ing-batt′ery, a vessel or hulk heavily armed, used in the defence of harbours or in attacks on marine fortresses;Float′ing-bridge, a bridge of rafts or beams of timber lying on the surface of the water;Float′ing-dock(seeDock);Float′ing-is′land, an aggregation of driftwood, roots, &c., capable of bearing soil, floated out from a river delta or the like;Float′ing-light, a ship, bearing a light, moored on sunken rocks, to warn seamen of danger.—adv.Float′ingly.—n.Float′-stone, a porous, sponge-like variety of quartz, so light as to float for a while on water.—adj.Float′y. [A.S.flotian, to float; Ice.flota.]
Flock, flok,n.a company of animals, as sheep, birds, &c.: a company generally: a Christian congregation.—v.i.to gather in flocks or in crowds.—n.Flock′-mas′ter, an owner or overseer of a flock. [A.S.flocc, a flock, a company; Ice.flokkr.]
Flock, flok,n.a lock of wool.—n.Floccillā′tion, a delirious picking of the bed-clothes by a patient.—adjs.Floc′cose, woolly;Floc′cūlar;Floc′cūlate.—n.Floc′cūlence.—adj.Floc′cūlent, woolly, flaky.—ns.Floc′cūlus, a small flock or tuft: a small lobe of the inferior surface of the cerebellum;Floc′cus, a flock or tuft of wool or wool-like hairs: the downy plumage of unfledged birds:—pl.Flocci(flok′si);Flock′-bed, a bed stuffed with flock or refuse wool;Flock′-pā′per, wall-paper covered with a rough surface formed of flock.—adj.Flock′y. [O. Fr.floc—L.floccus, a lock of wool.]
Floe, flō,n.a field of floating ice. [Prob. Norseflo, layer. The usual Danish word isflage.]
Flog, flog,v.t.to beat or strike: to lash: to chastise with blows:—pr.p.flog′ging;pa.p.flogged.—n.Flog′ging. [Late; prob. an abbrev. offlagellate.]
Flood, flud,n.a great flow of water: (B.) a river: an inundation: a deluge: the rise or flow of the tide: any great quantity.—v.t.to overflow: to inundate: to bleed profusely, as after parturition:—pr.p.flood′ing;pa.p.flood′ed.—ns.Flood′-gate, a gate for letting water flow through, or to prevent it: an opening or passage: an obstruction;Flood′ing, an extraordinary flow of blood from the uterus;Flood′mark, the mark or line to which the tide rises;Flood′-tide, the rising or inflowing tide.—The Flood, the deluge in the days of Noah. [A.S.flód; Dut.vloed, Ger.fluth. Cog. withflow.]
Floor, flōr,n.the part of a room on which we stand: a platform: the rooms in a house on the same level, a story: any levelled area.—v.t.to furnish with a floor: (coll.) to vanquish, stump.—ns.Floor′cloth, a covering for floors made of canvas oil-painted on both sides;Floor′er, a knock-down blow; a decisive retort, &c.: an examination question one cannot answer;Floor′ing, material for floors: a platform.—n.pl.Floor′-tim′bers, the timbers placed immediately across a ship's keel, on which her bottom is framed.—ns.First′-floor, the floor in a house above the ground-floor—in United States mostly identical withGround-floor, the floor of a house on a level with the ground. [A.S.flór; Dut.vloer, a flat surface, Ger.flur, flat land; W.llawr.]
Flop, flop,v.t.to cause to hang down.—v.i.to plump down suddenly: to break down.—n.a fall plump on the ground.—adv.Flop′pily.—n.Flop′piness.—adj.Flop′py. [A form offlap.]
Flora, flō′ra,n.the collective plants or vegetable species of a region, country, or district: a work containing a descriptive enumeration of these.—adj.Flō′ral, pertaining to Flora or to flowers: (bot.) containing the flower.—adv.Flō′rally.—n.Floréal(flō-rā-al′),the 8th month of the French revolutionary calendar, April 20-May 20.—adj.Flō′reāted, decorated with floral ornament.—n.Flores′cence, a bursting into flower: (bot.) the time when plants flower.—adj.Flores′cent, bursting into flowers.—n.Flō′ret(bot.), the flowers of any small and closely crowded inflorescence which resembles at first sight a single flower—e.g. composites, teasels, grasses, &c.—adj.Flōricul′tural.—ns.Flō′riculture, the culture of flowers or plants;Flōricul′turist, a florist.—adj.Flor′id, bright in colour: flushed with red: containing flowers of rhetoric or lively figures: richly ornamental.—adv.Flor′idly.—n.Flor′idness.—adjs.Flōrif′erous, bearing or producing flowers;Flō′riform, flower-shaped.—ns.Flōrilē′gium, an anthology or collection of choice extracts;Flor′ist, a cultivator of flowers: one who writes an account of plants. [L.Flora, the goddess of flowers.]
Florentine, flor′en-tin,adj.pertaining toFlorencein Tuscany.—n.a native or inhabitant thereof: a durable silk textile fabric—alsoFlor′ence: a pie with no crust beneath the meat.
Florin, flor′in,n.an English silver coin worth 2s., first minted in 1849: in Austria the unit of account, otherwise calledgulden, with a value about 2s.: in Holland sometimes calledguilder, and worth about 1s. 8d.: (orig.) a Florentine gold coin with a lily stamped on one side, first struck in the 11th century. [Fr., from It.fiorino—fiore, a lily—L.flos.]
Floruit, flō′rū-it,n.the period during which a person flourished. [L., 3d pers. sing. perf. offlorēre, to flourish.]
Floscule, flos′kūl,n.a floret.—adjs.Flos′cular,Flos′culous, composed of many floscules or tubular florets. [L.flosculus, dim. offlos, a flower.]
Floss, flos,n.the loose downy or silky substance in the husks of certain plants, as the bean—alsoFlosh.—n.Floss′-silk, very fine silk fibre extremely soft and downy and with a high lustre, used chiefly for embroidery.—adj.Floss′y. [Prob. O. Fr.flosche, down: or from some Teut. word cog. withfleece—cf. Ice.flos, nap.]
Flota, flō′ta,n.a commercial fleet: formerly the fleet which annually conveyed the produce of America to Spain. [Sp., 'a fleet.']
Flotage. SeeFloatage.
Flotant, flōt′ant,adj.(her.) floating in air or in water.
Flotation, flo-tā′shun,n.the act of floating: the science of floating bodies: act of floating a company or commercial enterprise.—Plane, orLine,of flotation, the plane or line in which the horizontal surface of a fluid cuts a body floating in it.
Flotilla, flo-til′a,n.a fleet of small ships. [Sp., dim. offlota, a fleet.]
Flotsam, flot′sam,n.goods lost by shipwreck, and found floating on the sea (seeJetsam). [Anglo-Fr.floteson(Fr.flottaison)—O. Fr.floter, to float.]
Flounce, flowns,v.i.to move abruptly or impatiently—n.an impatient gesture. [Prob. cog. with Norw.flunsa, to hurry, Sw. prov.flunsa, to souse.]
Flounce, flowns,n.a plaited strip sewed to the skirt of a dress.—v.t.to furnish with flounces.—n.Floun′cing, material for flounces. [Earlier formfrounce—O. Fr.fronce,fronche, prob. from L.frons, forehead; or Old High Ger.runza, a wrinkle, Ger.runze.]
Flounder, flown′dėr,v.i.to struggle with violent and awkward motion: to stumble helplessly in thinking or speaking. [Prob. an onomatopœic blending of the sound and sense of earlier words likefounder,blunder. Skeat compares Dut.flodderen, to splash.]
Flounder, flown′dėr,n.a small flat-fish, generally found in the sea near the mouth of rivers. [Anglo-Fr.,floundre, O. Fr.flondre, most prob. of Scand. origin; cf. Ice.flyðra, Sw.flundra.]
Flour, flowr,n.the finely-ground meal of wheat or other grain: the fine soft powder of any substance.—v.t.to reduce into or sprinkle with flour.—v.i.to break up into fine globules of mercury in the amalgamation process.—ns.Flour′-bolt, a machine for bolting flour;Flour′-mill, a mill for making flour.—adj.Flour′y, covered with flour. [Fr.fleur(de farine, of meal), fine flour—L.flos,floris, a flower.]
Flourish, flur′ish,v.i.to thrive luxuriantly: to be prosperous: to use copious and flowery language: to move in fantastic figures: to display ostentatiously: (mus.) to play ostentatious passages, or ostentatiously: to play a trumpet-call: to make ornamental strokes with the pen: to boast or brag.—v.t.to adorn with flourishes or ornaments: to swing about by way of show or triumph: (Shak.) to gloss over.—n.decoration: showy splendour: a figure made by a bold stroke of the pen: the waving of a weapon or other thing: a parade of words: a musical prelude: a trumpet-call.—adjs.Flour′ished, decorated with flourishes;Flour′ishing, thriving: prosperous: making a show.—adv.Flour′ishingly.—adj.Flour′ishy, abounding in flourishes.—Flourish of trumpets, a trumpet-call sounded on the approach of great persons; any ostentatious introduction. [O. Fr.florir, L.flos, flower.]
Flouse, flows,v.t.andv.i.(prov.) to splash.—AlsoFloush.
Flout, flowt,v.t.andv.i.to jeer, mock, or insult: to treat with contempt.—n.a mock: an insult.—adv.Flout′ingly, with flouting: insultingly.—n.Flout′ing-stock(Shak.), an object for flouting. [Prob. a specialised use offloute, M. E. form offlute, to play on the flute. So with Dut.fluiten.]
Flow, flō,v.i.to run, as water: to rise, as the tide: to move in a stream, as air: to glide smoothly: to circulate, as the blood: to abound: to hang loose and waving: (B.) to melt.—v.t.to cover with water.—n.a stream or current: the setting in of the tide: abundance: copiousness: free expression.—n.Flow′age, act of flowing: state of being flooded.—adj.Flow′ing, moving, as a fluid: fluent or smooth: falling in folds or in waves.—adv.Flow′ingly.—n.Flow′ingness. [A.S.flówan; Ger.fliessen.]
Flow, flow,n.a morass: (Scot.) a flat, moist tract of land. [Ice.floi, a marsh—flóa, to flood.]
Flower, flow′ėr,n.a growth comprising the reproductive organs of plants: the blossom of a plant: the best of anything: the prime of life: the person or thing most distinguished: a figure of speech: ornament of style: (pl.) menstrual discharge (B.).—v.t.to adorn with figures of flowers.—v.i.to blossom: to flourish.—ns.Flow′erage, a gathering of flowers;Flow′er-bell, a blossom shaped like a bell;Flow′er-bud, a bud with the unopened flower;Flow′er-clock, a collection of flowers so arranged that the time of day is indicated by their times of opening and closing;Flow′er-de-luce, the old name for the common species of iris (q.v.), or for the heraldic emblem conventionalised therefrom (seeFleur-de-lis);Flow′eret, a little flower: a floret;Flow′er-head, a compound flower in which all the florets are sessile on the receptacle;Flow′eriness;Flow′ering-rush, a monocotyledonous plant usually reckoned under the orderAlismaceæ, with large linear three-edged leaves and an umbel of rose-coloured flowers.—adjs.Flow′er-kir′tled,Flow′ery-kir′tled(Milt.), dressed in robes or garlands of flowers;Flow′erless(bot.) having no flowers.—ns.Flow′er-pot, a utensil in culture whereby plants are rendered portable;,Flow′er-serv′ice, a church service where offerings of flowers are made, to be afterwards sent to hospitals;Flow′er-show, an exhibition of flowers;Flow′er-stalk, the stem that supports the flower.—adj.Flow′ery, full of, or adorned with, flowers: highly embellished, florid.—Flower of Jove, a caryophyllaceous plant, with heads of purple or scarlet flowers, and leaves silky-white with hairs. [O. Fr.flour(Fr.fleur)—L.flos,floris, a flower.]
Flown, flōn,pa.p.offly.
Flown, flōn,adj.inflated, flushed: (Milt.) overflown.
Fluate, flōō′āt,n.Same asFluoride.
Fluctuate, fluk′tū-āt,v.i.to float backward and forward: to roll hither and thither: to be irresolute.—v.t.to cause to move hither and thither.—adjs.Fluc′tuant;Fluc′tuāting.—ns.Fluctuā′tion, a rising and falling like a wave: motion hither and thither: agitation: unsteadiness;Fluctuos′ity.—adj.Fluc′tuous. [L.fluctuāre,-ātum—fluctus, a wave—fluĕre, to flow.]
Flue, flōō,n.a smoke-pipe or small chimney. [Prob. related toflue, to expand, splay out.]
Flue, flōō,n.light down: soft down or fur.—adj.Flu′ey. [Ety. unknown; conn. withfluff.]
Flue, flōō,adj.(prov.) shallow, flat.—AlsoFlew.
Fluent, flōō′ent,adj.ready in the use of words: voluble: marked by copiousness.—n.the variable quantity in fluxions.—ns.Flu′ence(Milt.),Flu′ency,Flu′entness, readiness or rapidity of utterance: volubility.—adv.Flu′ently. [L.fluens,fluentis, pr.p. offluĕre, to flow.]
Fluff, fluf,n.a soft down from cotton, &c.: anything downy.—n.Fluff′iness.—adj.Fluff′y. [Perh. conn. withflue, light down.]
Flugelman, flōō′gl-man′,n.Same asFugleman.—n.Flü′gel-horn, a hunting-horn, a kind of keyed bugle.
Fluid, flōō′id,adj.that flows, as water: liquid or gaseous.—n.a substance in which the particles can move about with greater or less freedom from one part of the body to another.—adjs.Flu′idal;Fluid′ic;Fluid′iform.—vs.t.Fluid′ify,Flu′idise, to make fluid.—ns.Flu′idism;Fluid′ity,Flu′idness, a liquid or gaseous state.—adv.Flu′idly. [Fr.,—L.fluidus, fluid—fluĕre, to flow.]
Fluke, flōōk,n.a flounder: a parasitic trematoid worm which causes the liver-rot in sheep, so called because like a miniature flounder: a variety of kidney potato. [A.S.flóc, a plaice; cf. Ice.flóke.]
Fluke, flōōk,n.the part of an anchor which fastens in the ground.—adj.Fluk′y. [Prob. a transferred use of the foregoing.]
Fluke, flōōk,n.a successful shot made by chance, as at billiards: any unexpected advantage.
Flume, flōōm,n.an artificial channel for water to be applied to some industrial purpose: (U.S.) a narrow defile with upright walls, the bottom occupied by a torrent.—Be, orGo,up the flume, to come to grief, to be done for. [O. Fr.flum—L.flumen, a river—fluĕre, to flow.]
Flummery, flum′ėr-i,n.an acid jelly made from the husks of oats: the Scotch sowens: anything insipid: empty compliment. [W.llymru—llymrig, harsh, raw—llym, sharp, severe.]
Flummox, flum′oks,v.t.(slang) to perplex: defeat.
Flump, flump,v.t.(coll.) to throw down violently.—v.i.to throw one's self down heavily.—n.the dull sound so produced. [Imit.]
Flung, flung,pa.t.andpa.p.offling.
Flunkey, flung′ki,n.a livery servant: a footman: a mean, cringing fellow.—n.Flun′keydom.—adj.Flun′keyish.—n.Flun′keyism. [Perh. orig.flanker, one who runs along by the side of.]
Fluor, flōō′or,n.a mineral often described as chemically fluate of lime, but really calcium fluoride, found abundantly in Derbyshire—alsoFlu′or-spar,Flu′orite.—ns.Fluores′cein, a coal-tar product, little used in dyeing, the colour not being fast;Fluores′cence, a peculiar blue appearance exhibited by certain substances exposed to sunlight, and especially observable in a dilute solution of sulphate of quinine.—adjs.Fluores′cent, having the property of fluorescence;Fluor′ic.—ns.Flu′oride, a binary compound of fluorine with another element;Flu′orine, an elementary substance allied to chlorine, obtained chiefly from fluor;Flu′orotype, a photographic process in which salts of fluoric acid were employed for the purpose of producing images in the camera;Fluosil′icate, a compound of fluosilicic acid with some base.—adj.Fluosilic′ic, composed of silicon and fluorine. [A name given by the alchemists to all mineral acids because of theirfluidity, from L.fluĕre, to flow.]
Flurry, flur′i,n.a sudden blast or gust: agitation: bustle: the death-agony of the whale: a fluttering assemblage of things, as snowflakes.—v.t.to agitate, to confuse:—pr.p.flurr′ying;pa.p.flurr′ied.—v.t.Flurr, to scatter.—v.i.to fly up. [Prob. onomatopœic, suggested byflaw,hurry, &c.]
Flush, flush,n.a flow of blood to the face causing redness: sudden impulse: bloom, freshness, vigour: abundance.—v.i.to become red in the face: to flow swiftly.—v.t.to make red in the face: to cleanse by a copious flow of water: to elate, excite the spirits of: mostly in thepa.p.flushed (with victory).—adj.(of weather) hot and heavy: abounding: well supplied, as with money: (Shak.) in full bloom.—n.Flush′-box, a rectangular tank supplied with water for flushing the bowls of water-closets.—adj.Flushed, suffused with ruddy colour: excited.—ns.Flush′er, one who flushes sewers;Flush′ing, action of the verbflush: sudden reddening;Flush′ness, quality of being flush.—adj.Flush′y, reddish. [Prob. orig. identical with succeeding word, but meaning influenced by phonetic association withflash, the senses relating to colour byblush.]
Flush, flush,v.i.to start up like an alarmed bird.—v.t.to rouse and cause to start off.—n.the act of starting: (Spens.) a bird, or a flock of birds so started. [Prob. onomatopœic; suggested byfly,flutter, andrush.]
Flush, flush,v.t.to make even: to fill up to the level of a surface (often withup).—adj.having the surface level with the adjacent surface. [Prob. related toflushabove.]
Flush, flush,n.in card-playing, a hand in which all the cards or a specified number are of the same suit.—adj.in poker, consisting of cards all of the same suit.—Straight, orRoyal,flush, in poker, a sequence of five cards of the same suit. [Prob. Fr.flux—L.fluxus, flow.]
Fluster, flus′tėr,n.hurrying: confusion: heat.—v.t.to make hot and confused: to fuddle.—v.i.to bustle: to be agitated or fuddled.—v.t.Flus′terāte, to fluster.—n.Flusterā′tion.—adj.Flus′tered, fuddled: flurried.—n.Flus′terment.—adj.Flus′tery, confused. [Ice.flaustr, hurry.]
Flustra, flus′tra,n.one of the commonest genera of marine Polyzoa.
Flute, flōōt,n.a musical pipe with finger-holes and keys sounded by blowing: in organ-building, a stop with stopped wooden pipes, having a flute-like tone: one of a series of curved furrows, as on a pillar, called alsoFluting: a tall and narrow wine-glass: a shuttle in tapestry-weaving, &c.—v.i.to play the flute.—v.t.to play or sing in soft flute-like tones: to form flutes or grooves in.—adj.Flut′ed, ornamented with flutes, channels, or grooves.—ns.Flut′er;Fluti′na(tē′-),a kind of accordion;Flut′ing-machine′, a machine for corrugating sheet-metal, also a wood-turning machine for forming twisted, spiral, and fluted balusters;Flut′ist.—adj.Flut′y, in tone like a flute. [O. Fr.fleüte; ety. dub.]
Flutter, flut′ėr,v.i.to move about with bustle: to vibrate: to be in agitation or in uncertainty: (obs.) to be frivolous.—v.t.to throw into disorder: to move in quick motions.—n.quick, irregular motion: agitation: confusion: a hasty game at cards, &c. [A.S.flotorian, to float about, fromflot, the sea, stem offléotan, to float.]
Fluvial, flōō′vi-al,adj.of or belonging to rivers.—n.Flu′vialist.—adjs.Fluviat′ic,Flu′viatile, belonging to or formed by rivers. [L.fluvialis—fluvius, a river,fluĕre, to flow.]
Flux, fluks,n.act of flowing: a flow of matter: quick succession: a discharge generally from a mucous membrane: matter discharged: excrement: the term given to the substances employed in the arts to assist the reduction of a metallic ore and the fusion of a metal.—v.t.to melt.—v.i.to flow.—ns.Flux′ātion, the act of flowing or passing away;Fluxibil′ity,Flux′ibleness.—adjs.Flux′ible,Flux′ide, that may be melted.—ns.Fluxil′ity;Flux′ion, a flowing or discharge: a difference or variation: (math.) the rate of change of a continuously varying quantity: (pl.) the name given after Newton to that branch of mathematics which with a different notation is known after Leibnitz as the differential and integral calculus.—adjs.Flux′ional,Flux′ionary, variable: inconstant.—n.Flux′ionist, one skilled in fluxions.—adj.Flux′ive(Shak.), flowing with tears. [O. Fr.,—L.fluxus—fluĕre, to flow.]
Fly, flī,v.i.to move through the air on wings: to move swiftly: to pass away: to flee: to burst quickly or suddenly: to flutter.—v.t.to avoid, flee from: to cause to fly, as a kite:—pr.p.fly′ing;pa.t.flew (flōō);pa.p.flown (flōn).—n.a popular name best restricted in its simplicity to the insects forming the orderDiptera, but often so widely used with a prefix—e.g.butterfly,dragon-fly,May-fly—as to be virtually equivalent to insect: a fish-hook dressed with silk, &c., in imitation of a fly: a light double-seated carriage, a hackney-coach: (mech.) a flywheel: (pl.) the large space above the proscenium in a theatre, from which the scenes, &c., are controlled.—adj.wide-awake: (slang) knowing.—adjs.Fly′away, flighty;Fly′-bit′ten, marked by the bite of flies.—n.Fly′blow, the egg of a fly.—adj.Fly′blown, tainted with the eggs which produce maggots.—ns.Fly′boat, a long, narrow, swift boat used on canals;Fly′book, a case like a book for holding fishing-flies;Fly′-catch′er, a small bird, so called from its catching flies while on the wing;Fly′-fish′er, one who fishes with artificial flies as bait;Fly′-fish′ing, the art of so fishing;Fly′-flap′per, one who drives away flies with a fly-flap;Fly′ing-bridge, a kind of ferry-boat which is moved across a river by the action of the combined forces of the stream and the resistance of a long rope or chain made fast to a fixed buoy in the middle of the river;Fly′ing-butt′ress, an arch-formed prop which connects the walls of the upper and central portions of an aisled structure with the vertical buttresses of the outer walls;Fly′ing-camp, a body of troops for rapid motion from one place to another;Fly′ing-Dutch′man, a Dutch black spectral ship, whose captain is condemned for his impieties to sweep the seas around the Cape of Storms unceasingly, without ever being able to reach a haven;Fly′ing-fish, a fish which can leap from the water and sustain itself in the air for a short time, by its long pectoral fins, as if flying;Fly′ing-fox, a large frugivorous bat;Fly′ing-lē′mur, a galeopithecoid insectivore whose fore and hind limbs are connected by a fold of skin, enabling it to make flying leaps from tree to tree;Fly′ing-par′ty, a small body of soldiers, equipped for rapid movements, used to harass an enemy;Fly′ing-phalan′ger, a general popular name for the petaurists;Fly′ing-shot, a shot fired at something in motion;Fly′ing-squid, a squid having broad lateral fins by means of which it can spring high out of the water;Fly′ing-squirr′el, a name given to two genera of squirrels, which have a fold of skin between the fore and hind legs, by means of which they can take great leaps in the air;Fly′leaf, a blank leaf at the beginning and end of a book;Fly′-line, a line for angling with an artificial fly;Fly′-mak′er, one who ties artificial flies for angling;Fly′man, one who works the ropes in the flies of a theatre;Fly′pāper, a porous paper impregnated with poison for destroying flies;Fly′-pow′der, a poisonous powder used for killing flies;Fly′-rail, that part of a table which turns out to support the leaf.—adj.(Shak.) moving slow as a fly on its feet.—ns.Fly′-rod, a light flexible rod used in fly-fishing, usually in three pieces—butt, second-joint, and tip;Fly′-trap, a trap to catch flies: (bot.) the spreading dog-bane, also the Venus's fly-trap;Fly′wheel, a large wheel with a heavy rim applied to machinery to equalise the effect of the driving effort.—Fly at, to attack suddenly;Fly in the face of, to insult: to oppose;Fly open, to open suddenly or violently;Fly out, to break out in a rage;Fly the kite, to obtain money as by accommodation bills, the endorser himself having no money;Fly upon, to seize: to attack.—A fly in the ointment, some slight flaw which corrupts a thing of value (Eccles. x. i.);Break a fly on the wheel, to subject to a punishment out of all proportion to the gravity of the offence;Let fly, to attack: to throw or send off;Make the feathers fly(seeFeathers). [A.S.fléogan, pa.t.fleáh; Ger.fliegen.]
Flyte,Flite, flīt,v.i.(Scot.) to scold, to brawl.—n.Flyte,Flyt′ing, a scolding, or heated dispute. [A.S.flítan, to strive; Ger.be-fleissen.]
Foal, fōl,n.the young of a mare or of a she-ass.—v.i.andv.t.to bring forth a foal.—ns.Foal′foot, colts-foot;Foal′ing, bringing forth of a foal or young. [A.S.fola; Ger.fohlen, Gr.pōlos; L.pullus.]
Foam, fōm,n.froth: the bubbles which rise on the surface of liquors: fury.—v.i.to gather foam: to be in a rage.—v.t.(B.) to throw out with rage or violence (without).—adv.Foam′ingly.—adjs.Foam′less, without foam;Foam′y, frothy. [A.S.fám; Ger.feim, prob. akin to L.spuma.]
Fob, fob,n.a trick.—v.t.to cheat. [Prob. a corr. of O. Fr.forbe, a rogue; or Ger.foppen, to jeer.]
Fob, fob,n.a small pocket in the waistband of trousers for a watch: a chain with seals, &c., hanging from the fob. [If orig. a secret pocket, perh. connected with the above.]
Focus, fō′kus,n.(opt.) a point in which several rays meet and are collected after being reflected or refracted, while avirtualfocus is a point from which rays tend after reflection or refraction—theprincipalfocus is the focus of parallel rays after reflection or refraction: any central point:—pl.Fō′cuses,Foci(fō′sī).—v.t.to bring to a focus: to concentrate:—pa.p.fō′cussed.—adj.Fō′cal, of or belonging to a focus.—v.t.Fō′calise, to bring to a focus: to concentrate.—n.Focimeter(fō-sim′e-tėr),an instrument for assisting in focussing an object in or before a photographic camera—usually a lens of small magnifying power.—Focussing cloth, a cloth thrown over a photographic camera and the operator's head and shoulders to exclude all light save that coming through the lens.—Conjugate foci, two points so situated that if a light be placed at one, its rays will be reflected to the other;In focus, placed or adjusted so as to secure distinct vision, or a sharp, definite image. [L.focus, a hearth.]
Fodder, fod′ėr,n.food for cattle, as hay and straw.—v.t.to supply with fodder.—ns.Fodd′erer;Fodd′ering. [A.S.fódor; Ger.futter.]
Fodient, fō′di-ent,adj.andn.digging.
Foe, fō,n.an enemy: one who, or that which, injures or hinders anything: an ill-wisher.—ns.Foe′man, an enemy in war:—pl.Foe′men;Fō′en(Spens.), pl. of foe. [M. E.foo—A.S.fáh,fá(adj.), allied to the compound n.gefá; cf.féogan, to hate.]
Fœtus,Fetus, fē′tus,n.the young of animals in the egg or in the womb, after its parts are distinctly formed, until its birth.—adjs.Fœ′tal,Fē′tal, pertaining to a fœtus;Fœ′ticidal.—ns.Fœ′ticide,Fē′ticide, destruction of the fœtus. [L., from obs.feuēre, to bring forth, whencefemina,fecundus, &c.]
Fog, fog,n.a thick mist: watery vapour rising from either land or water.—v.t.to shroud in fog.—v.i.to become coated with a uniform coating.—ns.Fog′-bank, a dense mass of fog sometimes seen at sea appearing like a bank of land;Fog′-bell, a bell rung by the motion of the waves or wind to warn sailors from rocks, shoals, &c. in foggy weather.—adj.Fog′-bound, impeded by fog.—ns.Fog′-bow, a whitish arch like a rainbow, seen in fogs.—adv.Fog′gily.—n.Fog′giness.—adj.Fog′gy, misty: damp: clouded in mind: stupid.—n.Fog′-horn, a horn used as a warning signal by ships in foggy weather: a sounding instrument for warning ships off the shore during a fog: a siren.—adj.Fog′less, without fog, clear.—ns.Fog′-ring, a bank of fog in the form of a ring;Fog′-sig′nal, an audible signal used on board ship, &c., during a fog, when visible signals cease to be of use;Fog′-smoke, fog. [The origin of the word is hopelessly misty; Mr Bradley connects with succeeding word; Prof. Skeat connects with Dan.fog, as insnee-fog, thick falling snow; cf. Ice.fok, a snowdrift.]
Fog, fog,Foggage, fog′āj,n.grass which grows in autumn after the hay is cut: (Scot.) moss.—v.i.to become covered with fog. [Origin unknown; W.ffwg, dry grass, is borrowed.]
Fogy,Fogey, fō′gi,n.a dull old fellow; a person with antiquated notions.—adjs.Fō′gram, antiquated.—n.a fogy.—ns.Fō′gramite;Fogram′ity;Fōgydom.—adj.Fō′gyish.—n.Fō′gyism. [Prob. a substantive use offoggyin sense of 'fat,' 'bloated,' 'moss-grown.']
Foh, fō,interj.an exclamation of abhorrence or contempt.
Foible, foi′bl,n.a weak point in one's character: a failing. [O. Fr.foible, weak.]
Foil, foil,v.t.to defeat: to puzzle: to disappoint: (Spens.) to beat down or trample with the feet:—pr.p.foil′ing;pa.p.foiled.—n.failure after success seemed certain: defeat: a blunt sword used in fencing, having a button on the point.—Put to the foil, to blemish. [O. Fr.fuler, to stamp or crush—Low L.fullare—fullo, a fuller of cloth.]
Foil, foil,n.a leaf or thin plate of metal, as tin-foil: a thin leaf of metal put under precious stones to increase their lustre or change their colour: anything that serves to set off something else: a small arc in the tracery of a window, &c. (trefoiled,cinquefoiled,multifoiled, &c.).—adj.Foiled.—n.Foil′ing. [O. Fr.foil(Fr.feuille)—L.folium, a leaf.]
Foin, foin,v.i.to thrust with a sword or spear.—n.a thrust with a sword or spear.—adv.Foin′ingly. [O. Fr.foine—L.fuscina, a trident.]
Foison, foi′zn,n.plenty: autumn.—adj.Foi′sonless, weak, feeble—(Scot.)Fizz′enless. [O. Fr.,—L.fusion-em—fundĕre,fusum, to pour forth.]
Foist, foist,v.t.to bring in by stealth: to insert wrongfully: to pass off as genuine (withinorintobefore the thing affected, anduponbefore the person).—n.Foist′er. [Prob. Dut. prov.vuisten, to take in the hand;vuist, fist.]
Fold, fōld,n.the doubling of any flexible substance: a part laid over on another: (pl.) complex arrangements, intricacy.—v.t.to lay one part over another: to enclose in a fold or folds, to wrap up: to embrace.—Fold, in composition with numerals=times, as inTen′fold.—n.Fold′er, the person or thing that folds: a flat knife-like instrument used in folding paper.—adj.Fold′ing, that folds, or that can be folded, asfolding-bed,-chair,-joint,-net,-table, &c.—ns.Fold′ing, a fold or plait;Fold′ing-door, a door consisting of two parts hung on opposite jambs, so that their edges come into contact when the door is closed;Fold′ing-machine′, a mechanism that automatically folds printed sheets. [A.S.fealdan, to fold; pa.t.feóld; Ger.falten.]
Fold, fōld,n.an enclosure for protecting domestic animals, esp. sheep: a flock of sheep: (fig.) a church: the Christian Church.—v.t.to confine in a fold.—n.Fold′ing. [A.S.fald, a fold, stall.]
Folderol, fol′de-rol,n.mere nonsense: silly trifle: (pl.) trivial ornaments. [Formed from meaningless syllables, the refrain of old songs.]
Foliaceous, fō-li-ā′shus,adj.pertaining to or consisting of leaves or laminæ. [L.foliaceus—folium, a leaf.]
Foliage, fō′lī-āj,n.leaves: a cluster of leaves: (archit.) a representation of leaves, flowers, and branches used for ornamentation.—adjs.Fō′liaged, worked like foliage;Fō′liar, pertaining to leaves: resembling leaves.—v.t.Fō′liāte(orig.), to beat into a leaf: to cover with leaf-metal.—adj.Fō′liāted, beaten into a thin leaf: decorated with leaf ornaments: (mus.) having notes added above or below, as in a plain-song melody.—ns.Fō′liātion, the leafing, esp. of plants: the act of beating a metal into a thin plate, or of spreading foil over a piece of glass to form a mirror: (geol.) the alternating and more or less parallel layers or folia of different mineralogical nature, of which the crystalline schists are composed: (archit.) decoration with cusps, lobes, or foliated tracery;Fō′liature, foliation. [O. Fr.fueillage—L.folium, a leaf.]
Folio, fō′li-ō,n.a sheet of paper once folded: a book of such sheets: the size of such a book: one of several sizes of paper adapted for folding once into well-proportioned leaves: (book-k.) a page in an account-book, or two opposite pages numbered as one: (law) a certain number of words taken as a basis for computing the length of a document: a wrapper for loose papers.—adj.pertaining to or containing paper only once folded.—v.t.to number the pages of: to mark off the end of every folio in law copying.—In folio, in sheets folded but once: in the form of a folio. [Abl. of L.folium, the leaf of a tree, a leaf or sheet of paper.]
Foliole, fō′li-ōl,n.(bot.) a single leaflet of a compound leaf.—adj.Fō′liolate, of or pertaining to leaflets. [Fr., dim. of L.folium, a leaf.]
Folk, fōk,n.people, collectively or distributively: a nation or race (rarely inpl.): (arch.) the people, commons: (pl.) those of one's own family, relations (coll.):—generally used inpl.FolkorFolks(fōks).—ns.Folke′thing, the lower house of the Danish parliament or Rigsdag;Folk′land, among the Anglo-Saxons, public land as distinguished fromboc-land(bookland)—i.e. land granted to private persons by a written charter;Folk′lore, a department of the study of antiquities or archæology, embracing everything relating to ancient observances and customs, to the notions, beliefs, traditions, superstitions, and prejudices of the common people—the science which treats of the survivals of archaic beliefs and customs in modern ages (the nameFolklorewas first suggested by W. J. Thoms—'Ambrose Merton'—in theAthenæum, August 22, 1846);Folk′lorist, one who studies folklore;Folk′mote, an assembly of the people among the Anglo-Saxons;Folk′-right, the common law or right of the people;Folk′-song, any song or ballad originating among the people and traditionally handed down by them: a song written in imitation of such;Folk′-speech, the dialect of the common people of a country, in which ancient idioms are embedded;Folk′-tale, a popular story handed down by oral tradition from a more or less remote antiquity. [A.S.folc; Ice.fólk; Ger.volk.]
Follicle, fol′i-kl,n.(anat.) a gland: (bot.) a seed-vessel.—adjs.Follic′ular, pertaining to or consisting of follicles;Follic′ulated;Follic′ulous. [Fr.,—L.folliculus, dim. offollis, a wind-bag.]
Follow, fol′ō,v.t.to go after or behind: to come after, succeed: to pursue: to attend: to imitate: to obey: to adopt, as an opinion: to keep the eye or mind fixed on: to pursue, as an object of desire: to result from, as an effect from a cause: (B.) to strive to obtain.—v.i.to come after another: to result.—n.(billiards) a stroke which causes the ball to follow the one which it has struck.—ns.Foll′ow-board, in moulding, the board on which the pattern is laid;Foll′ower, one who comes after: a copier: a disciple: a servant-girl's sweetheart;Foll′owing, the whole body of supporters.—adj.coming next after.—Follow home, to follow closely: to follow to the end;Follow on(B.), to continue endeavours;Follow suit, in card-playing, to play a card of the same suit as the one which was led: to do anything on the same lines as another;Follow up, to pursue an advantage closely. [A.S.folgian,fylgian, app. a compound, but obscure; Ger.folgen.]
Folly, fol′i,n.silliness or weakness of mind: a foolish act: criminal weakness: (B.) sin: a monument of folly, as a great structure left unfinished, having been begun without a reckoning of the cost.—v.i.to act with folly. [O. Fr.folie—fol, foolish.]
Foment, fo-ment′,v.t.to bathe with warm water: to encourage: to instigate (usually to evil).—ns.Fomentā′tion, a bathing or lotion with warm water: encouragement;Foment′er. [Fr.,—L.fomentāre—fomentumforfovimentum—fovēre, to warm.]
Fomes, fō′miz,n.any porous substance capable of absorbing and retaining contagious effluvia:—pl.Fomī′tes. [L., touchwood.]
Fon, fon,n.(Spens.) a fool, an idiot.—v.i.to be foolish, play the fool.—adv.Fon′ly, foolishly.
Fond, fond,adj.foolishly tender and loving: weakly indulgent: prizing highly (withof): very affectionate: kindly disposed: (obs.) foolish.—v.i.to dote.—v.t.Fond′le, to treat with fondness: to caress.—ns.Fond′ler;Fond′ling, the person or thing fondled.—adv.Fond′ly, in a fond manner, foolishly.—n.Fond′ness. [Forfonned, pa.p. of M. E.fonnen, to act foolishly,fon, a fool; fondly conn. by some with Sw.fåne, fool, Ice.fáni, swaggerer.]
Fond. SeeFand(2).
Fone, fōn,n.(Spens.)pl.offoe.
Font, font,n.the vessels used in churches as the repository of the baptismal water, usually a basin or cup hollowed out of a solid block of marble, &c.—adj.Font′al, pertaining to a font or origin.—ns.Font′let, a little font;Font′-stone, a baptismal font of stone. [L.font-em,fons, a fountain.]
Font, font,Fount, fownt,n.a complete assortment of types of one sort, with all that is necessary for printing in that kind of letter. [Fr.fonte—fondre—L.fundĕre, to cast.]
Fontanelle, fon-ta-nel′,n.a gap between the bones of the skull of a young animal: an opening for the discharge of pus.—AlsoFontanel′. [Fr.]
Fontange, fong-tanzh′,n.a tall head-dress worn in the 17th and 18th centuries. [Fr., fromFontanges, the territorial title of one of Louis XIV.'s drabs.]
Fontarabian, fon-ta-rā′bi-an,adj.pertaining toFontarabiaor Fuenterrabia on the Pyrenees, where Roland was overpowered and slain by the Saracens.
Fonticulus, fon-tik′ū-lus,n.a small ulcer produced by caustics, &c.: the depression just over the top of the breast-bone. [L., dim. offons.]
Fontinalis, fon-tin-ā′lis,n.a genus of aquatic mosses allied toHypnum, almost without stalk. [Formed from L.fons.]
Food, fōōd,n.what one feeds on: that which, being digested, nourishes the body: whatever sustains or promotes growth.—adjs.Food′ful, able to supply food abundantly;Food′less, without food. [A.S.fóda; Goth.fódeins, Sw.föda.]
Food, fōōd,n.(Spens.). Same asFeud.
Fool, fōōl,n.one who acts stupidly: a person of weak mind: a jester: a tool or victim, as of untoward circumstances: (B.) a wicked person.—v.t.to deceive: to treat with contempt.—v.i.to play the fool: to trifle.—adjs.Fool′-begged(Shak.), taken for a fool, idiotical, absurd;Fool′-born(Shak.), foolish from one's birth, arising from folly.—n.Fool′ery, an act of folly: habitual folly.—adj.Fool′-happ′y, happy or lucky without contrivance or judgment.—n.Fool′-hard′iness—(Spens.)Fool′-hard′ise.—adjs.Fool′-hard′y, foolishly bold: rash or incautious;Fool′ish, weak in intellect: wanting discretion: ridiculous: marked with folly: deserving ridicule: (B.) sinful, disregarding God's laws.—adv.Fool′ishly.—ns.Fool′ishness,Fool′ing, foolery.—adj.Fool′ish-wit′ty(Shak.), wise in folly and foolish in wisdom.—ns.Fool's′-err′and, a silly or fruitless enterprise: search for what cannot be found;Fool's′-pars′ley, an umbelliferous plant in Britain, not to be mistaken for parsley, being poisonous.—Fool away, to spend to no purpose or profit;Fool's cap, a kind of head-dress worn by professional fools or jesters, usually having a cockscomb hood with bells;Fool's paradise, a state of happiness based on fictitious hopes or expectations;Fool with, to meddle with officiously;Make a fool of, to bring a person into ridicule: to disappoint;Play the fool, to behave as a fool: to sport. [O. Fr.fol(Fr.fou), It.folle—L.follis, a wind-bag.]
Fool, fōōl,n.crushed fruit scalded or stewed, mixed with cream and sugar, as 'gooseberry fool.' [Prob. a use of preceding suggested bytrifle.]
Foolscap, fōōlz′kap,n.a long folio writing or printing paper, varying in size (17×13½ in., 16¾×13½ in., &c.), so called from having originally borne the water-mark of a fool's cap and bells.
Foot, foot,n.that part of its body on which an animal stands or walks (having in man 26 bones): the lower part or base: a measure=12 in., (orig.) the length of a man's foot: foot-soldiers: a division of a line of poetry:—pl.Feet.—v.i.to dance: to walk:—pr.p.foot′ing;pa.p.foot′ed.—ns.Foot′ball, a large ball for kicking about in sport: play with this ball;Foot′-bath, act of bathing the feet: a vessel for this purpose;Foot′-board, a support for the foot in a carriage or elsewhere: the foot-plate of a locomotive engine;Foot′boy, an attendant in livery;Foot′breadth, the breadth of a foot, an area of this size;Foot′bridge, a narrow bridge for foot-passengers;Foot′cloth(Shak.), a sumpter-cloth which reached to the feet of the horse.—p.adj.Foot′ed, provided with a foot or feet: (Shak.) having gained a foothold, established.—ns.Foot′fall, a setting the foot on the ground: a footstep;Foot′gear, shoes and stockings.—n.pl.Foot′guards, guards that serve on foot, the élite of the British infantry.—ns.Foot′hill, a minor elevation distinct from the higher part of a mountain and separating it from the valley (usually inpl.);Foot′hold, space on which to plant the feet: that which sustains the feet;Foot′ing, place for the foot to rest on: firm foundation: position: settlement: tread: dance: plain cotton lace.—adj.Foot′less, having no feet.—ns.Foot′-lick′er(Shak.), a fawning, slavish flatterer;Foot′light, one of a row of lights in front of and on a level with the stage in a theatre, &c.;Foot′man, a servant or attendant in livery: (B.) a soldier who serves on foot: a runner:—pl.Foot′men;Foot′mark,Foot′print, the mark or print of a foot: a track;Foot′note, a note of reference at the foot of a page;Foot′pad, a highwayman or robber on foot, who frequents public paths or roads;Foot′-pass′enger, one who travels on foot;Foot′path, a narrow way which will not admit carriages;Foot′-plate, the platform on which the driver and stoker of a locomotive engine stand;Foot′-post, a post or messenger that travels on foot;Foot′-pound, the force needed to raise one pound weight the height of one foot—the usual unit in measuring mechanical force;Foot′-race, a race on foot;Foot′-rope, a rope stretching along under a ship's yard for the men standing on when furling the sails: the rope to which the lower edge of a sail is attached;Foot′rot, a name applied to certain inflammatory affections about the feet of sheep;Foot′rule, a rule or measure a foot in length;Foot′-sol′dier, a soldier that serves on foot.—adj.Foot′-sore, having sore or tender feet, as by much walking.—ns.Foot′-stalk(bot.), the stalk or petiole of a leaf;Foot′-stall, a woman's stirrup;Foot′step, the step or impression of the foot: a track: trace of a course pursued.—n.pl.Foot′steps, course, example.—ns.Foot′stool, a stool for placing one's feet on when sitting: anything trodden upon;Foot′-warm′er, a contrivance for keeping the feet warm;Foot′way, a path for passengers on foot.—p.adj.Foot′worn, worn by many feet, as a stone: foot-sore.—Foot-and-mouth disease(seeMurrain).—Foot it, to walk: to dance.—Cover the feet(B.), a euphemism for, to ease nature.—Put one's best foot foremost, to appear at greatest advantage;Put one's foot in it, to spoil anything by some indiscretion;Set on foot, to originate. [A.S.fót, pl.fét; Ger.fuss, L.pes,pedis, Gr.pous,podos, Sans.pād.]
Footy, foot′i,adj.(prov.) mean.—AlsoFought′y. [Prob. an A.S.fúhtig; cog. with Dut.vochtig.]
Foozle, fōōz′l,n.(coll.) a tedious fellow: a bungled stroke at golf, &c.—v.i.to fool away one's time.—n.Fooz′ler.—p.adj.Fooz′ling. [Cf. Ger. prov.fuseln, to work slowly.]
Fop, fop,n.an affected dandy.—ns.Fop′ling, a vain affected person;Fop′pery, vanity in dress or manners: affectation: folly.—adj.Fop′pish, vain and showy in dress: affectedly refined in manners.—adv.Fop′pishly.—n.Fop′pishness. [Cf. Ger.foppen, to hoax.]
For, for,prep.in the place of: for the sake of: on account of: in the direction of: with respect to, by reason of: appropriate or adapted to, or in reference to: beneficial to: in quest of: notwithstanding, in spite of: in recompense of: during.—For all(N.T.), notwithstanding;For it, to be done for the case, usually preceded by a negative;For to(B.), in order to.—As for, as far as concerns. [A.S.for; Ger.für,vor, akin to L. and Gr.pro, Sans.pra, before in place or time.]
For, for,conj.the word by which a reason is introduced: because: on the account that.—For becauseandFor that=because;For why=why.
Forage, for′aj,n.fodder, or food for horses and cattle: provisions: the act of foraging.—v.i.to go about and forcibly carry off food for horses and cattle, as soldiers.—v.t.to plunder.—ns.For′age-cap, the undress cap worn by infantry soldiers;For′ager. [Fr.fourrage, O. Fr.feurre, fodder, of Teut. origin.]
Foramen, fo-rā′men,n.a small opening:—pl.Foram′ina.—adjs.Foram′inated,Foram′inous, pierced with small holes: porous.—n.pl.Foraminif′era, an order ofRhizopoda, furnished with a shell or test, usually perforated by pores (foramina).—n.Foramin′ifer, one of such.—adjs.Foraminif′eral,Foraminif′erous.—Forāmen magnum, the great hole in the occipital bone for the passage of the medulla oblongata and its membranes. [L.,—forāre, to pierce.]