Defn: A gun, pistol, or any weapon from a shot is discharged by the force of an explosive substance, as gunpowder.
FIREBACKFire"back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
FIREBAREFire"bare`, n.
Defn: A beacon. [Obs.] Burrill.
FIRE BEETLEFire" bee`tle. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
FIREBIRDFire"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Baltimore oriole.
FIREBOARDFire"board`, n.
Defn: A chimney board or screen to close a fireplace when not in use.
FIREBOTEFire"bote`, n. (O.Eng.Law)
Defn: An allowance of fuel. See Bote.
FIREBRANDFire"brand`, n.
1. A piece of burning wood. L'Estrange.
2. One who inflames factions, or causes contention and mischief; an incendiary. Bacon.
FIRECRACKERFire"crack`er, n.
Defn: See Cracker., n., 3.
FIRECRESTFire"crest`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European kinglet (Regulus ignicapillus), having a bright red crest; — called also fire-crested wren.
FIREDOGFire"dog`, n.
Defn: A support for wood in a fireplace; an andiron.
FIREDRAKEFire"drake`, n. Etym: [AS. f; f fire + draca a dragon. See Fire, andDrake 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.
FIRE-FANGEDFire"-fanged`, a. Etym: [Fire + fanged seized.]
Defn: Injured as by fire; burned; — said of manure which has lost its goodness and acquired an ashy hue in consequence of heat generated by decomposition.
FIREFISHFire"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A singular marine fish of the genus Pterois, family Scorpænidæ, of several species, inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region. They are usually red, and have very large spinose pectoral and dorsal fins.
FIREFLAIREFire"flaire`, n. Etym: [Fire + Prov. E. flaire a ray.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European sting ray of the genus Trygon (T. pastinaca); — called also fireflare and fiery flaw.
FIREFLAMEFire"flame`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European band fish (Cepola rubescens).
FIREFLYFire"fly`, n.; pl. Fireflies (. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any luminous winged insect, esp. luminous beetles of the familyLampyridæ.
Note: 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 Elateridæ. See Fire beetle.
FIRELESSFire"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of fire.
FIRELOCKFire"lock`, n.
Defn: 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.
FIREMANFire"man, n.; pl. Firemen (-men).
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-NEWFire"-new`, a.
Defn: Fresh from the forge; bright; quite new; brand-new. Charlesreade.Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current. Shak.
FIREPLACEFire"place`, n.
Defn: The part a chimney appropriated to the fire; a hearth; — usually an open recess in a wall, in which a fire may be built.
FIREPROOFFire"proof`, a.
Defn: Proof against fire; incombustible.
FIREPROOFINGFire"proof`ing, n.
Defn: The act or process of rendering anything incombustible; also, the materials used in the process.
FIRERFir"er, n.
Defn: One who fires or sets fire to anything; an incendiary. [R.] R.Carew.
FIREROOMFire"room`, n.
Defn: Same as Stokehold, below.
FIRE-SETFire"-set`, n.
Defn: A set of fire irons, including, commonly, tongs, shovel, and poker.
FIRESIDEFire"side`, n.
Defn: A place near the fire or hearth; home; domestic life or retirement.
FIRESTONEFire"stone` (; 110), n. Etym: [AS. f flint; f 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.
FIRETAILFire"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European redstart; — called also fireflirt. [prov. Eng.]
FIREWARDENFire"ward`en, n.
Defn: 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).
FIREWOODFire"wood`, n.
Defn: Wood for fuel.
FIREWORKFire"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.
2. pl.
Defn: A pyrotechnic exhibition. [Obs. in the sing.]Night before last, the Duke of Richmond gave a firework. Walpole.
FIREWORMFire"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
FIRINGFir"ing, n.
1. The act of disharging 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 PINFir"ing pin`.
Defn: In the breech mechanism of a firearm, the pin which strikes the head of the cartridge and explodes it.
FIRK Firk, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OE. ferken to proceed, hasten, AS. fercian to bring, assist; perh. akin to faran to go, E. fare.]
Defn: To beat; to strike; to chastise. [Obs.]I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. Shak.
FIRKFirk, v. i.
Defn: To fly out; to turn out; to go off. [Obs.]A wench is a rare bait, with which a manNo sooner's taken but he straight firks mad.B.Jonson.
FIRKFirk, n.
Defn: A freak; trick; quirk. [Obs.] Ford.
FIRKINFir"kin, n. Etym: [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.]
FIRLOT Fir"lot, n. Etym: [Scot., the fourth part of a boll of grain, from a word equiv. to E. four + lot part, portion. See Firkin.]
Defn: A dry measure formerly used in Scotland; the fourth part of a boll of grain or meal. The Linlithgow wheat firlot was to the imperial bushel as 998 to 1000; the barley firlot as 1456 to 1000. Brande & C.
FIRM Firm, a. [Compar. Firmer; superl. Firmest.] Etym: [OE. ferme, F. ferme, fr.L. firmus; cf. Skr. dharman support, law, order, dh to hold fast, carry. Cf. Farm, Throne.]
1. Fixed; hence, closely compressed; compact; substantial; hard; solid; — applied to the matter of bodies; as, firm flesh; firm muscles, firm wood.
2. Not easily excited or disturbed; unchanging in purpose; fixed; steady; constant; stable; unshaken; not easily changed in feelings or will; strong; as, a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent. Under spread ensigns, moving nigh, in slow But firm battalion. Milton. By one man's firm obediency fully tried. Milton.
3. Solid; — opposed to fluid; as, firm land.
4. Indicating firmness; as, a firm tread; a firm countenance.
Syn. — Compact; dense; hard; solid; stanch; robust; strong; sturdly; fixed; steady; resolute; constant.
FIRM Firm, n. Etym: [It. firma the (firm, sure, or confirming) signature or subscription, or Pg. firma signature, firm, cf. Sp. firma signature; all fr. L. firmus, adj., firm. See Firm, a]
Defn: The name, title, or style, under which a company transacts business; a partnership of two or more persons; a commercial house; as, the firm of Hope & Co.
FIRM Firm, v. t. Etym: [OE. fermen to make firm, F. fermer, fr. L. firmare to make firm. See Firm, a.]
1. To fix; to settle; to confirm; to establish. [Obs.] And Jove has firmed it with an awful nod. Dryden.
2. To fix or direct with firmness. [Obs.] He on his card and compass firms his eye. Spenser.
FIRMAMENTFir"ma*ment, n. Etym: [L. firmamentum, fr. firmare to make firm: cf.F. firmament. See Firm, v. & a.]
1. Fixed foundation; established basis. [Obs.] Custom is the . . . firmament of the law. Jer. Taylor.
2. The region of the air; the sky or heavens. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the miGen. i. 6. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament. Gen. i. 14.
Note: In Scripture, the word denotes an expanse, a wide extent; the great arch or expanse over out heads, in which are placed the atmosphere and the clouds, and in which the stars appear to be placed, and are really seen.
3. (Old Astron.)
Defn: The orb of the fixed stars; the most rmote of the celestial spheres.
FIRMAMENTALFir`ma*men"tal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the firmament; celestial; being of the upper regions. Dryden.
FIRMANFir"man ( or ), n.; pl. Firmans or. Etym: [Pers. ferman.]
Defn: 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-CHISELFirm"er-chis"el, n.
Defn: A chisel, thin in proportion to its width. It has a tang to enter the handle instead of a socket for receiving it. Knight.
FIRMITUDEFirm"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. firmitudo. See Firm.]
Defn: Strength; stability. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
FIRMITYFirm"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. firmitas.]
Defn: Strength; firmness; stability. [Obs.] Chillingworth.
FIRMLESSFirm"less, a.
1. Detached from substance. [Obs.] Does passion still the firmless mind control Pope.
2. Infirm; unstable. "Firmless sands." Sylvester.
FIRMLYFirm"ly, adv.
Defn: In a firm manner.
FIRMNESSFirm"ness, n.
Defn: 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."
FIRMSFirms, n. pl. Etym: [From Firm, a.] (Arch.)
Defn: The principal rafters of a roof, especially a pair of rafters taken together. [Obs.]
FIRRINGFir"ring, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See Furring.
FIRRYFir"ry, a.
Defn: Made of fir; abounding in firs.In firry woodlands making moan. Tennyson.
FIRSTFirst, a. Etym: [OE. first, furst, AS. fyrst; akin to Icel. fyrstr,Sw. & Dan. förste, OHG. furist, G. fürst prince; a superlatiye formof 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.] — First fruit 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.
FIRSTFirst, adv.
Defn: 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.
FIRSTFirst, n. (Mus.)
Defn: 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.
FIRSTBORNFirst"born`, a.
Defn: First brought forth; first in the order of nativity; eldest; hence, most excellent; most distinguished or exalted.
FIRST-CLASSFirst"-class`, a.
Defn: 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-HANDFirst"-hand`, a.
Defn: 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.
FIRSTLINGFirst"ling, n. Etym: [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.
FIRSTLINGFirst"ling, a.
Defn: Firstborn.All the firstling males. Deut. xv. 19.
FIRSTLYFirst"ly, adv.
Defn: In the first place; before anything else; — sometimes improperly used for first.
FIRST-RATEFirst"-rate`, a.
Defn: Of the highest excellence; preëminent in quality, size, orestimation.Our only first-rate body of contemporary poetry is the German. M.Arnold.Hermocrates . . . a man of first-rate ability. Jowett (Thucyd).
FIRST-RATEFirst"-rate`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A war vessel of the highest grade or the most powerful class.
FIRTHFirth, n. Etym: [Scot. See Frith.] (geog.)
Defn: An arm of the sea; a frith.
FIR TREEFir" tree`
Defn: . See Fir.
FISC Fisc, n. Etym: [F. fisc, fr. L. fiscus basket, money basket, treasury; prob. akin to fascis bundle. See Fasces.]
Defn: A public or state treasury. Burke.
FISCALFis"cal, a. Etym: [F. fiscal, L. fiscalis, fr. fiscus. See Fisc.]
Defn: Pertaining to the public treasury or revenue.The fiscal arreangements of government. A. Hamilton.
FISCALFis"cal, n.
1. The income of a prince or a state; revenue; exhequer. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. A treasurer. H. Swinburne.
3. A public officer in Scotland who prosecutes in petty criminal cases; — called also procurator fiscal.
4. The solicitor in Spain and Portugal; the attorney-general.
FISETICFi*set"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to fustet or fisetin.
FISETINFis"e*tin, n. Etym: [G. fisettholz a species of fustic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow crystalline substance extracted from fustet, and regarded as its essential coloring principle; — called also fisetic acid.
FISHFish, n. Etym: [F. fiche peg, mark, fr. fisher to fix.]
Defn: A counter, used in various games.
FISH Fish, n.; pl. Fishes, or collectively, Fish. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
Note: 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.
Defn: 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.
Note: Fish is used adjectively or as part of a compound word; as,fish line, fish pole, fish spear, fish-bellied. Age of Fishes. Seeunder Age, n., 8.— Fish ball, fish (usually salted codfish) shared fine, mixed withmashed 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 underone) swells out like the belly of a fish. Francis.— Fish crow (Zoöl.), a species of crow (Corvus ossifragus), foundon 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 inhauling up the anchor to the gunwale of a ship.— Fish garth, a dam or weir in a river for keeping fish or takingthem easily.— Fish glue. See Isinglass.— Fish joint, a joint formed by a plate or pair of plates fastenedupon two meeting beams, plates, etc., at their junction; — usedlargely 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 inorder 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. theparasitic Copepoda, belonging to Caligus, Argulus, and other relatedgenera. 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 marineanimals, as whales, seals, sharks, from cods' livers, etc.— Fish owl (Zoöl.), a fish-eating owl of the Old World generaScotopelia 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, forcatching crabs, lobsters, etc.— Fish pound, a net attached to stakes, for entrapping and catchingfish; a weir. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.— Fish slice, a broad knife for dividing fish at table; a fishtrowel.— Fish slide, an inclined box set in a stream at a small fall, orripple, to catch fish descending the current. Knight.— Fish sound, the air bladder of certain fishes, esp. those thatare dried and used as food, or in the arts, as for the preparation ofisinglass.— Fish story, a story which taxes credulity; an extravagant orincredible narration. [Colloq. U.S.] Bartlett.— Fish strainer. (a) A metal colander, with handles, for takingfish from a boiler. (b) A perforated earthenware slab at the bottomof a dish, to drain the water from a boiled fish.— Fish trowel, a fish slice.— Fish weir or wear, a weir set in a stream, for catching fish.— Neither fish nor flesh (Fig.), neither one thing nor the other.
FISHFish, 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.
FISHFish, v. t. Etym: [OE. fischen, fisken, fissen, AS. fiscian; akin toG. fischen, OHG. fisc, Goth. fisk. 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-BELLIEDFish"-bel`lied, a.
Defn: Bellying or swelling out on the under side; as, a fish-bellied rail. Knight.
FISH-BLOCKFish"-block`, n.
Defn: See Fish-tackle.
FISHERFish"er, n. Etym: [AS. fiscere.]
1. One who fishes.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A carnivorous animal of the Weasel family (Mustela Canadensis); the pekan; the "black cat."
FISHERMANFish"er*man, n.; pl. Fishermen (.
1. One whose occupation is to catch fish.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A ship or vessel employed in the business of taking fish, as in the cod fishery.
FISHERYFish"er*y, n.; pl. Fisheries (.
1. The business or practice of catching fish; fishing. Addison.
2. A place for catching fish.
3. (Law)
Defn: The right to take fish at a certain place, or in particular waters. Abbott.
FISHFULFish"ful, a.
Defn: Abounding with fish. [R.] "My fishful pond." R. Carew.
FISHGIGFish"gig`, n.
Defn: A spear with barbed prongs used for harpooning fish. Knight.
FISHHAWKFish"hawk`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
FISHHOOKFish"hook`, n.
1. A hook for catching fish.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A hook with a pendant, to the end of which the fish-tackle is hooked. Dana.
FISHIFYFish"i*fy, v. t.
Defn: To change to fish. [R.] Shak.
FISHINESSFish"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being fishy or fishlike. Pennant.
FISHINGFish"ing, n.
1. The act, practice, or art of one who fishes.
2. A fishery. Spenser.
FISHINGFish"ing, a. Etym: [From Fishing, n.]
Defn: 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.
FISHLIKEFish"like, a.
Defn: Like fish; suggestive of fish; having some of the qualities offish.A very ancient and fishlike smell. Shak.
FISHMONGERFish"mon`ger, n.
Defn: A dealer in fish.
FISHSKINFish"skin`, n.
1. The skin of a fish (dog fish, shark, etc.)
2. (Med.)
Defn: See Ichthyosis.
FISH-TACKLEFish"-tac`kle, n.
Defn: A tackle or purchase used to raise the flukes of the anchor up to the gunwale. The block used is called the fish-block.
FISH-TAILFish"-tail`, a.
Defn: 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.
FISHWIFEFish"wife`, n.
Defn: A fishwoman.
FISHWOMANFish"wom`an, n.; pl. Fishwomen (.
Defn: A woman who retails fish.
FISHYFish"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.]
FISKFisk, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Sw. fjeska to bustle about.]
Defn: To run about; to frisk; to whisk. [Obs.]He fisks abroad, and stirreth up erroneous opinions. Latimer.
FISSIGEMMATIONFis`si*gem*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. fissus (p.p. of findere to split) +E. gemmation.] (Biol.)
Defn: A process of reproduction intermediate between fission and gemmation.
FISSILE Fis"sile, a. Etym: [L. fissilis, fr. fissus, p.p. of findere to split. See Fissure.]
Defn: Capable of being split, cleft, or divided in the direction ofthe grain, like wood, or along natural planes of cleavage, likecrystals.This crystal is a pellucid, fissile stone. Sir I. Newton.
FISSILINGUAL Fis`si*lin"gual, a. Etym: [L. fissus (p.p. of findere to split) + E. lingual.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the tongue forked.
FISSILINGUIA Fis`si*lin"gui*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. fissus (p.p. o f findere to split) + lingua tongue.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Lacertilia having the tongue forked, including the common lizards. [Written also Fissilingues.]
FISSILITYFis*sil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Quality of being fissile.
FISSIONFis"sion, n. Etym: [L. fissio. See Fissure.]
1. A cleaving, splitting, or breaking up into parts.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: A process by which certain coral polyps, echinoderms, annelids, etc., spontaneously subdivide, each individual thus forming two or more new ones. See Strobilation.
FISSIPALMATE Fis`si*pal"mate, a. Etym: [L. fissus (p.p. of findere to split) + palma palm.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Semipalmate and loboped, as a grebe's foot. See Illust. underAves.
FISSIPARAFis*sip"a*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Fissiparous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Animals which reproduce by fission.
FISSIPARISMFis*sip"a*rism, n. Etym: [See Fissiparous.] (Biol.)
Defn: Reproduction by spontaneous fission.
FISSIPARITYFis`si*par"i*ty, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Quality of being fissiparous; fissiparism.
FISSIPAROUS Fis*sip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. fissus (p.p. of findere to split) + parere to bring forth: cf. F. fissipare.] (Biol.)
Defn: Reproducing by spontaneous fission. See Fission.— Fis*sip"a*rous*ly, adv.
FISSIPATIONFis`si*pa"tion, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Reproduction by fission; fissiparism.
FISSIPED; FISSIPEDALFis"si*ped, Fis*sip"e*dal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fissipède.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the toes separated to the base. [See Aves.]
FISSIPEDFis"si*ped, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Fissipedia.
FISSIPEDIA Fis`si*pe"di*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. fissus (p.p. of findere to cleave) + pes, pedis, a foot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of the Carnivora, including the dogs, cats, and bears, in which the feet are not webbed; — opposed to Pinnipedia.
FISSIROSTRALFis`si*ros"tral, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fissirostre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the bill cleft beyond the horny part, as in the case of swallows and goatsuckers.
FISSIROSTRES Fis`si*ros"tres, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. fissus (p.p. of findere to cleave) + rostrum beak.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of birds having the bill deeply cleft.
FISSURALFis"sur*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a fissure or fissures; as, the fissural pattern of a brain.
FISSURATIONFis`su*ra"tion, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The act of dividing or opening; the state of being fissured.
FISSURE Fis"sure, n. Etym: [L. fissura, fr. findere, fissum, to cleave, split; akin to E. bite: cf. F. fissure.]
Defn: 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.
FISSUREFis"sure, v. t.
Defn: To cleave; to divide; to crack or fracture.
FISSURELLAFis`su*rel"la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. fissura a fissure.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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. Etym: [OE. fist, fust, AS. f; akin to D. vuist, OHG. f, G. faust, and prob. to L. pugnus, Gr. 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.)
Defn: the index mark [], used to direct special attention to the passage which follows. Hand over fist (Naut.), rapidly; hand over hand.
FISTFist, 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.
FISTICFist"ic, a. Etym: [From Fist.]
Defn: Pertaining to boxing, or to encounters with the fists; puglistic; as, fistic exploits; fistic heroes. [Colloq.]
FISTICUFFFist"i*cuff, n.
Defn: A cuff or blow with the fist or hand; (pl.)
Defn: a fight with the fists; boxing. Swift.
FISTINUTFis"ti*nut, n. Etym: [Cf. Fr. fistinq, fistuq. See Pistachio.]
Defn: A pistachio nut. [Obs.] Johnson.
FISTUCAFis*tu"ca, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: An instrument used by the ancients in driving piles.
FISTULAFis"tu*la, n.; pl. Fistulæ. Etym: [L.]
1. A reed; a pipe.
2. A pipe for convejing water. [Obs.] Knight.
3. (Med.)
Defn: 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.
FISTULARFis"tu*lar, a. Etym: [L. fistularis: cf. F. fistulaire.]
Defn: Hollow and cylindrical, like a pipe or reed. Johnson.
FISTULARIAFis`tu*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. fistula pipe.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fishes, having the head prolonged into a tube, with the mouth at the extremity.
FISTULARIOIDFis`tu*la"ri*oid, a. Etym: [Fistularia + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Fistularia.
FISTULATE Fis"tu*late, v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. L. fistulatus furnished with pipes.]
Defn: To make hollow or become hollow like a fistula, or pipe. [Obs.]"A fistulated ulcer." Fuller.
FISTULEFis"tule, n.
Defn: A fistula.
FISTULIFORMFis"tu*li*form ( or ), a. Etym: [Fistula + -form.]
Defn: Of a fistular form; tubular; pipe-shaped.Stalactite often occurs fistuliform. W. Philips.
FISTULOSEFis"tu*lose`, a. Etym: [L. fistulosus.]
Defn: Formed like a fistula; hollow; reedlike. Craig.
FISTULOUSFis"tu*lous, a. Etym: [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.
FITFit,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Fight. [Obs. or Colloq.]
FITFit, n. Etym: [AS. fitt a song.]
Defn: In Old English, a song; a strain; a canto or portion of a ballad; a passus. [Written also fitte, fytte, etc.] To play some pleasant fit. Spenser.
FITFit, a. [Compar. Fitter; superl. Fittest.] Etym: [OE. fit, fyt; cf.E. feat neat, elegant, well made, or icel. fitja to web, knit, OD.vitten to suit, square, Goth. f to adorn.
1. Adapted to an end, object, or design; suitable by nature or by art; suited by character, qualitties, circumstances, education, etc.; qualified; competent; worthy. That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in. Shak. Fit audience find, though few. Milton.
2. Prepared; ready. [Obs.] So fit to shoot, she singled forth among her foes who first her quarry's strength should feel. Fairfax.
3. Conformed to a standart of duty, properiety, or taste; convenient; meet; becoming; proper. Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked Job xxxiv. 18.
Syn. — Suitable; proper; appropriate; meet; becoming; expedient; congruous; correspondent; apposite; apt; adapted; prepared; qualified; competent; adequate.
FITFit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fitting.]
1. To make fit or suitable; to adapt to the purpose intended; to qualify; to put into a condition of readiness or preparation. The time is fitted for the duty. Burke. The very situation for which he was peculiarly fitted by nature. Macaulay.
2. To bring to a required form and size; to shape aright; to adapt to a model; to adjust; — said especially of the work of a carpenter, machinist, tailor, etc. The carpenter . . . marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes. Is. xliv. 13.
3. To supply with something that is suitable or fit, or that is shaped and adjusted to the use required. No milliner can so fit his customers with gloves. Shak.
4. To be suitable to; to answer the requirements of; to be correctly shaped and adjusted to; as, if the coat fits you, put it on. That's a bountiful answer that fits all questions. Shak. That time best fits the work. Shak. To fit out, to supply with necessaries or means; to furnish; to equip; as, to fit out a privateer. — To fit up, to firnish with things suitable; to make proper for the reception or use of any person; to prepare; as, to fit up a room for a guest.
FITFit, v. i.
1. To be proper or becoming. Nor fits it to prolong the feast. Pope.
2. To be adjusted to a particular shape or size; to suit; to be adapted; as, his coat fits very well.
FITFit, n.
1. The quality of being fit; adjustment; adaptedness; as of dress to the person of the wearer.
2. (Mach.) (a) The coincidence of parts that come in contact. (b) The part of an object upon which anything fits tightly. Fit rod (Shipbuilding), a gauge rod used to try the depth of a bolt hole in order to determine the length of the bolt required. Knight.
FIT Fit, n. Etym: [AS. fit strife, fight; of uncertain origin. sq. root 77.]
1. A stroke or blow. [Obs. or R.] Curse on that cross, quoth then the Sarazin, That keeps thy body from the bitter fit. Spenser.
2. A sudden and violent attack of a disorder; a stroke of disease, as of epilepsy or apoplexy, which produces convulsions or unconsciousness; a convulsion; a paroxysm; hence, a period of exacerbation of a disease; in general, an attack of disease; as, a fit of sickness. And when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake. Shak.
3. A mood of any kind which masters or possesses one for a time; a temporary, absorbing affection; a paroxysm; as, a fit melancholy, of passion, or of laughter. All fits of pleasure we balanced by an equal degree of pain. Swift. The English, however, were on this subject prone to fits of jealously. Macaulay.
4. A passing humor; a caprice; a sudden and unusual effort, activity, or motion, followed by relaxation or insction; an impulse and irregular action. The fits of the season. Shak.
5. A darting point; a sudden emission. [R.] A tongue of light, a fit of flame. Coleridge. By fits, By fits and starts, by intervals of action and re
FITCHFitch (; 224), n.; pl. Fitches. Etym: [See Vetch.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A vetch. [Obs.]
2. pl. (Bot.)
Defn: A word found in the Authorized Version of the Bible, representing different Hebrew originals. In Isaiah xxviii. 25, 27, it means the black aromatic seeds of Nigella sativa, still used as a flavoring in the East. In Ezekiel iv. 9, the Revised Version now reads spelt.
FITCHFitch, n. Etym: [Contr. of fitched.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European polecat; also, its fur.
FITCHE Fitch"é, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fiché, lit. p.p. of ficher to fasten, OF. fichier to pierce. Cf. 1st Fish.] (Her.)
Defn: Sharpened to a point; pointed. Cross fitché, a cross having the lower arm pointed.
FITCHEDFitched, a. (her.)
Defn: Fitché. [Also fiched.]
FITCHET; FITCHEW Fitch"et, Fitch"ew, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. fisseau, fissel, OD. fisse, visse, vitsche, D. vies nasty, loathsome, E. fizz.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European polecat (Putorius foetidus). See Polecat.
FITCHYFitch"y, a.
Defn: Having fitches or vetches.
FITCHYFitch"y, a. Etym: [See Fitché.] (Her.)
Defn: Fitché.
FITFULFit"ful, a. Etym: [From 7th Fit.]
Defn: Full of fits; irregularly variable; impulsive and unstable.After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well. Shak.— Fit"ful*ly, adv.— Fit"ful*ness, n.The victorius trumpet peal Dies fitfully away. Macaulay.
FITHEL; FITHULFith"el, Fith"ul, n. Etym: [OE. See Fiddle.]
Defn: A fiddle [Obs.] Chaucer.
FITLYFit"ly, adv.
Defn: In a fit manner; suitably; properly; conveniently; as, a maxim fitly applied.
FITMENTFit"ment, n.
Defn: The act of fitting; that which is proper or becoming; equipment. [Obs.] Shak.
FITNESSFit"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being fit; as, the fitness of measures or laws; a person's fitness for office.
FITTFitt, n.
Defn: See 2d Fit.
FITTABLEFit"ta*ble, a.
Defn: Suitable; fit. [Obs.] Sherwood.
FITTEDNESSFit"ted*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being fitted; adaptation. [Obs.] Dr. H.More.
FITTERFit"ter, n.
1. One who fits or makes to fit; esp.: (a) One who tries on, and adjusts, articles of dress. (b) One who fits or adjusts the different parts of machinery to each other.
2. A coal broker who conducts the sales between the owner of a coal pit and the shipper. [Eng.] Simmonds.
FITTERFit"ter, n.
Defn: A little piece; a flitter; a flinder. [Obs.]Where's the Frenchman Alas, he's all fitters. Beau. & Fl.
FITTINGFit"ting, n.
Defn: Anything used in fitting up; especially (pl.),
Defn: necessary fixtures or apparatus; as, the fittings of a church or study; gas fittings.
FITTINGFit"ting, a.
Defn: Fit; appropriate; suitable; proper.— Fit"ting*ly, adv.— Fit"ting*ness, n. Jer. Taylor.
FITWEEDFit"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Eryngium foetidum) supposed to be a remedy for fits.
FITZFitz, n. Etym: [OF. fils, filz, fiz, son, F. fils, L. filius. SeeFilial.]
Defn: A son; — used in compound names, to indicate paternity, esp.of the illegitimate sons of kings and princes of the blood; as,Fitzroy, the son of the king; Fitzclarence, the son of the duke ofClarence.
FIVE Five, a. Etym: [OE. fif, five, AS. fif, fife; akin to D. vijf, OS. fif, OHG. finf, funf, G. fünf, Icel. fimm, Sw. & Sw. Dan. fem, Goth. fimf, Lith. penki, W. pump, OIr. cóic, L. quinque, Gr. pa. Fifth, Cinque, Pentagon, Punch the drink, Quinary.]
Defn: Four and one added; one more than four.
Five nations (Ethnol.), a confederacy of the Huron-Iroquois Indians,consisting of five tribes: Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas, Oneidas, andSenecas. They inhabited the region which is now the State of newYork.
FIVEFive, n.
1. The number next greater than four, and less than six; five units or objects. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Matt. xxv. 2.
2. A symbol representing this number, as 5, or V.
FIVE-FINGERFive"-fin`ger, n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cinquefoil.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A starfish with five rays, esp. Asterias rubens.
FIVEFOLDFive"fold`, a. & adv.
Defn: In fives; consisting of five in one; five repeated; quintuple.
FIVE-LEAFFive"-leaf`, n.
Defn: Cinquefoil; five-finger.
FIVE-LEAFED; FIVE-LEAVEDFive"-leafed`, Five"-leaved`, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having five leaflets, as the Virginia creeper.
FIVELINGFive"ling, n. (Min.)
Defn: A compound or twin crystal consisting of five individuals.
FIVESFives, n. pl.
Defn: A kind of play with a ball against a wall, resembling tennis; - - so named because three fives, or fifteen, are counted to the game. Smart. Fives court, a place for playing fives.
FIVESFives, n. Etym: [See Vives.]
Defn: A disease of the glands under the ear in horses; the vives.Shak.
FIVE-TWENTIESFive`-twen"ties, n. pl.
Defn: Five-twenty bonds of the United States (bearing six per cent interest), issued in 1862, '64, and '65, redeemable after five and payable in twenty years.
FIX Fix, a. Etym: [OE., fr. L. fixus, p.p. of figere to fix; cf. F. fixe.]
Defn: Fixed; solidified. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FIXFix, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fixed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fixing.] Etym: [Cf.F. fixer.]
1. To make firm, stable, or fast; to set or place permanently; tofasten immovably; to establish; to implant; to secure; to makeefinite.An ass's nole I fixed on his head. Shak.O, fix thy chair of grace, that all my powers May also fix theirreverence. Herbert.His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. Ps. cxii. 7.And fix far deeper in his head their stings. Milton.
2. To hold steadily; to direct unwaveringly; to fasten, as the eye on an object, the attention on a speaker. Sat fixed in thought the mighty Stagirite. Pope. One eye on death, and one full fix'd on heaven. Young.
3. To transfix; to pierce. [Obs.] Sandys.
4. (Photog.)
Defn: To render (an impression) permanent by treating with such applications a will make it insensible to the action of light. Abney.
5. To put in prder; to arrange; to dispose of; to adjust; to set to rights; to set or place in the manner desired or most suitable; hence, to repair; as, to fix the clothes; to fix the furniture of a room. [Colloq. U.S.]
6. (Iron Manuf.)
Defn: To line the hearth of (a puddling furnace) with fettling.
Syn.— To arrange; prepare; adjust; place; establis; settle; determine.
FIXFix, v. i.
1. To become fixed; to settle or remain permanently; to cease fromwandering; to rest.Your kindness banishes your fear, Resolved to fix forever here.Waller.
2. To become firm, so as to resist volatilization; to cease to flow or be fluid; to congeal; to become hard and malleable, as a metallic substance. Bacon. To fix on, to settle the opinion or resolution about; to determine regarding; as, the contracting parties have fixed on certain leading points.
FIXFix, n.
1. A position of difficulty or embarassment; predicament; dillema. [Colloq.] Is he not living, then No. is he dead, then No, nor dead either. Poor Aroar can not live, and can not die, — so that he is in an almighty fix. De Quincey.
2. (Iron Manuf.)
Defn: fettling. [U.S.]
FIXABLEFix"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being fixed.
FIXATIONFix*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fixation.]
1. The act of fixing, or the state of being fixed. An unalterable fixation of resolution. Killingbeck. To light, created in the first day, God gave no proper place or fixation. Sir W. Raleigh. Marked stiffness or absolute fixation of a joint. Quain. A fixation and confinement of thought to a few objects. Watts.
2. The act of uniting chemically with a solid substance or in a solid form; reduction to a non-volatile condition; — said of gaseous elements.
3. The act or process of ceasing to be fluid and becoming firm. Glanvill.
4. A state of resistance to evaporation or volatilization by heat; — said of metals. Bacon.
FIXATIVEFix"a*tive, n.
Defn: That which serves to set or fix colors or drawings, as a mordant.
FIXEDFixed, a.
1. Securely placed or fastened; settled; established; firm; imovable; unalterable.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Stable; non-volatile. Fixed air (Old Chem.), carbonic acid or carbon dioxide; — so called by Dr. Black because it can be absorbed or fixed by strong bases. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic. — Fixed alkali (Old Chem.), a non-volatile base, as soda, or potash, in distinction from the volatile alkali ammonia. — Fixed ammunition (Mil.), a projectile and powder inclosed together in a case ready for loading. — Fixed battery (Mil.), a battery which contains heavy guns and mortars intended to remain stationary; — distinguished from movable battery. — Fixed bodies, those which can not be volatilized or separated by a common menstruum, without great difficulty, as gold, platinum, lime, etc. — Fixed capital. See the Note under Capital, n., 4. — Fixed fact, a well established fact. [Colloq.] — Fixed light, one which emits constant beams; — distinguished from a flashing, revolving, or intermittent light. — Fixed oils (Chem.), non-volatile, oily substances, as stearine and olein, which leave a permanent greasy stain, and which can not be distilled unchanged; — distinguished from volatile or essential oils. — Fixed pivot (Mil.), the fixed point about which any line of troops wheels. — Fixed stars (Astron.), such stars as always retain nearly the same apparent position and distance with respect to each other, thus distinguished from planets and comets.
FIXEDLYFix"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fixed, stable, or constant manner.
FIXEDNESSFix"ed*ness, n.
1. The state or quality of being fixed; stability; steadfastness.
2. The quality of a body which resists evaporation or volatilization by heat; solidity; cohesion of parts; as, the fixedness of gold.
FIXIDITYFix*id"i*ty, n.
Defn: Fixedness. [Obs.] Boyle.
FIXINGFix"ing, n.
1. The act or process of making fixed.
2. That which is fixed; a fixture.
3. pl.
Defn: Arrangements; embellishments; trimmings; accompaniments.[Colloq. U.S.]
FIXITYFix"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fixité.]
1. Fixedness; as, fixity of tenure; also, that which is fixed.
2. Coherence of parts. Sir I. Newton.
FIXTUREFix"ture, n. Etym: [Cf. Fixture.]
1. That which is fixed or attached to something as a permanent appendage; as, the fixtures of a pump; the fixtures of a farm or of a dwelling, that is, the articles which a tenant may not take away.
2. State of being fixed; fixedness. The firm fixture of thy foot. Shak.
3. (Law)
Defn: Anything of an accessory character annexed to houses and lands, so as to constitute a part of them. This term is, however, quite frequently used in the peculiar sense of personal chattels annexed to lands and tenements, but removable by the person annexing them, or his personal representatives. In this latter sense, the same things may be fixtures under some circumstances, and not fixtures under others. Wharton (Law Dict. ). Bouvier.
Note: This word is frequently substituted for fixure (formerly the word in common use) in new editions of old works.
FIXURE Fix"ure, n. Etym: [L. fixura a fastening, fr. figere to fix. See Fix, and cf. Fixture.]
Defn: Fixed position; stable condition; firmness. [Obs.] Shak.
FIZGIGFiz"gig`, n.
Defn: A fishing spear. [Obs.] Sandys.
FIZGIGFiz"gig`, n. Etym: [Fizz + gig whirling thing.]
Defn: A firework, made of damp powder, which makes a fizzing or hissing noise when it explodes.
FIZGIGFiz"gig`, n. Etym: [See Gig a flirt.]
Defn: A gadding, flirting girl. Gosson.
FIZZFizz, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fizzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fizzing.] Etym:[Cf. Icel. fisa to break wind, Dan. fise to foist, fizzle, OSw. fisa,G. fisten, feisten. Cf. Foist.]
Defn: To make a hissing sound, as a burning fuse.
FIZZFizz, n.
Defn: A hising sound; as, the fizz of a fly.
FIZZLEFiz"zle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fizzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fizzling.]Etym: [See Fizz.]
1. To make a hissing sound. It is the easfizzling. B. Jonson.
2. To make a ridiculous failure in an undertaking. [Colloq. or Low] To fizzle out, to burn with a hissing noise and then go out, like wet gunpowder; hence, to fail completely and ridicuously; to prove a failure. [Colloq.]
FIZZLEFiz"zle, n.
Defn: A failure or abortive effort. [Colloq.]
FJORDFjord, n.
Defn: See Fiord.
FLABBERGASTFlab"ber*gast, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Flap, and Aghast.]
Defn: To astonish; to strike with wonder, esp. by extraordinary statements. [Jocular] Beaconsfield.