Chapter CLXXI: Epilogue: Ep"i*logue, n. Etym: F. épilogue, L. epilogus, fr. Gr. Legend (18)

5. To prefigure; to foreshow. In this the heaven figures some event. Shak.

6. (Mus.) (a) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters, in order to indicate the accompanying chords. (b) To embellish. To figure out, to solve; to compute or find the result of. -- To figure up, to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.

FIGURE Fig"ure, v. t.

1. To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the envoy figured at court. Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring away brilliantly. M. Arnold.

2. To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring to secure the nomination. [Colloq.]

FIGURED Fig"ured, a.

1. Adorned with figures; marked with figures; as, figured muslin.

2. Not literal; figurative. [Obs.] Locke.

3. (Mus.) (a) Free and florid; as, a figured descant. See Figurate, 3. (b) Indicated or noted by figures. Figured bass. See Continued bass, under Continued.

FIGUREHEAD Fig"ure*head`, n.

1. (Naut.)

Defn: The figure, statue, or bust, on the prow of a ship.

2. A person who allows his name to be used to give standing to enterprises in which he has no responsible interest or duties; a nominal, but not real, head or chief.

FIGURIAL Fi*gu"ri*al, a.

Defn: Represented by figure or delineation. [R.] Craig.

FIGURINE Fi`gu`rine" ( or ), n. Etym: [F., dim. of figure.]

Defn: A very small figure, whether human or of an animal; especially, one in terra cotta or the like; -- distinguished from statuette, which is applied to small figures in bronze, marble, etc.

FIGURIST Fig"ur*ist, n.

Defn: One who uses or interprets figurative expressions. Waterland.

FIGWORT Fig"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of herbaceous plants (Scrophularia), mostly found in the north temperate zones. See Brownwort.

FIJIAN Fi"ji*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Fiji islands or their inhabitants. -- n.

Defn: A native of the Fiji islands. [Written also Feejeean, Feejee.]

FIKE Fike, n.

Defn: See Fyke.

FIL Fil, obs.

Defn: imp. of Fall, v. i. Fell. Chaucer.

FILACEOUS Fi*la"ceous ( or ), a. Etym: [L. filum thread.]

Defn: Composed of threads. Bacon.

FILACER Fil"a*cer, n. Etym: [OE. filace a file, or thread, on which the records of the courts of justice were strung, F. filasse tow of flax or hemp, fr. L. filum thread.] (Eng. Law)

Defn: A former officer in the English Court of Common Pleas; -- so called because he filed the writs on which he made out process. [Obs.] Burrill.

FILAMENT Fil"a*ment, n. Etym: [F. filament, fr. L. filum thread. See File a row.]

Defn: A thread or threadlike object or appendage; a fiber; esp. (Bot.), the threadlike part of the stamen supporting the anther.

FILAMENTARY Fil`a*men"ta*ry, a.

Defn: Having the character of, or formed by, a filament.

FILAMENTOID Fil"a*men*toid`, a. Etym: [Filament + -oid.]

Defn: Like a filament.

FILAMENTOUS Fil`a*men"tous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. filamenteux.]

Defn: Like a thread; consisting of threads or filaments. Gray.

FILANDER Fil"an*der, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of kangaroo (Macropus Brunii), inhabiting New Guinea.

FILANDERS Fil"an*ders, n. pl. Etym: [F. filandres, fr. L. filum thread.] (Falconry)

Defn: A disease in hawks, characterized by the presence of small threadlike worms, also of filaments of coagulated blood, from the rupture of a vein; -- called also backworm. Sir T. Browne.

FILAR Fi"lar, a. Etym: [L. filum a thread.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a thread or line; characterized by threads stretched across the field of view; as, a filar microscope; a filar micrometer.

FILARIA Fi*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. filum a thread.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of slender, nematode worms of many species, parasitic in various animals. See Guinea worm.

FILARIAL Fi*la"ri*al, a.

1. (Zoöl. & Med.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or caused by, filariæ and allied parasitic worms.

2. Straight, as if in a line; as, the filarial flight of birds.

FILARIASIS Fil`a*ri"a*sis, n. [NL.] (Med.)

Defn: The presence of filariæ in the blood; infection with filariæ.

FILASSE Fi*lasse", n. [F., fr. fil thread, L. filum.]

Defn: Vegetable fiber, as jute or ramie, prepared for manufacture.

FILATORY Fil"a*to*ry, n. Etym: [LL. filatorium place for spinning, fr. filare to spin, fr. L. filum a thread.]

Defn: A machine for forming threads. [Obs.] W. Tooke.

FILATURE Fil"a*ture, n. Etym: [LL. filatura, fr. filare to spin: cf. F. filature. See Filatory.]

1. A drawing out into threads; hence, the reeling of silk from cocoons. Ure.

2. A reel for drawing off silk from cocoons; also, an establishment for reeling silk.

FILBERT Fil"bert, n. Etym: [Perh. fr. fill + bread, as filling the bread or husk; cf. G. bartnuss (lit., bread nut) filbert; or perh. named from a St.Philibert, whose day, Aug. 22, fell in the nutting season.] (Bot.)

Defn: The fruit of the Corylus Avellana or hazel. It is an oval nut, containing a kernel that has a mild, farinaceous, oily taste, agreeable to the palate.

Note: In England filberts are usually large hazelnuts, especially the nuts from selected and cultivated trees. The American hazelnuts are of two other species. Filbert gall (Zoöl.), a gall resembling a filbert in form, growing in clusters on grapevines. It is produced by the larva of a gallfly (Cecidomyia).

FILCH Filch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filched; p. pr. & vb. n. Filching.] Etym: [Cf. AS. feol to stick to, OHG. felhan, felahan, to hide, Icel. fela, Goth. filhan to hide, bury, Prov. E. feal to hide slyly, OE. felen.]

Defn: To steal or take privily (commonly, that which is of little value); to pilfer. Fain would they filch that little food away. Dryden. But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. Shak.

FILCHER Filch"er, n.

Defn: One who filches; a thief.

FILCHINGLY Filch"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: By pilfering or petty stealing.

FILE File, n. Etym: [F. file row (cf. Pr., Sp., Pg., & It. fila), LL. fila, fr. L. filum a thread. Cf. Enfilade, Filament, Fillet.]

1. An orderly succession; a line; a row; as: (a) (Mil) A row of soldiers ranged one behind another; -- in contradistinction to rank, which designates a row of soldiers standing abreast; a number consisting the depth of a body of troops, which, in the ordinary modern formation, consists of two men, the battalion standing two deep, or in two ranks.

Note: The number of files in a company describes its width, as the number of ranks does its depth; thus, 100 men in "fours deep" would be spoken of as 25 files in 4 ranks. Farrow. (b) An orderly collection of papers, arranged in sequence or classified for preservation and reference; as, files of letters or of newspapers; this mail brings English files to the 15th instant. (c) The line, wire, or other contrivance, by which papers are put and kept in order. It is upon a file with the duke's other letters. Shak.

(d) A roll or list. "A file of all the gentry." Shak.

2. Course of thought; thread of narration. [Obs.] Let me resume the file of my narration. Sir H. Wotton. File firing, the act of firing by file, or each file independently of others. -- File leader, the soldier at the front of any file, who covers and leads those in rear of him. -- File marching, the marching of a line two deep, when faced to the right or left, so that the front and rear rank march side by side. Brande & C. --Indian file, or Single file, a line of men marching one behind another; a single row. -- On file, preserved in an orderly collection. -- Rank and file. (a) The body of soldiers constituing the mass of an army, including corporals and privates. Wilhelm. (b) Those who constitute the bulk or working members of a party, society, etc., in distinction from the leaders.

FILE File, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filed; p. pr. & vb. n. Filing.]

1. To set in order; to arrange, or lay away, esp. as papers in a methodical manner for preservation and reverence; to place on file; to insert in its proper place in an arranged body of papers. I would have my several courses and my dishes well filed. Beau. & Fl.

2. To bring before a court or legislative body by presenting proper papers in a regular way; as, to file a petition or bill. Burrill.

3. (Law)

Defn: To put upon the files or among the records of a court; to note on (a paper) the fact date of its reception in court. To file a paper, on the part of a party, is to place it in the official custody of the clerk. To file, on the part of the clerk, is to indorse upon the paper the date of its reception, and retain it in his office, subject to inspection by whomsoever it may concern. Burrill.

FILE File, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. filer.] (Mil.)

Defn: To march in a file or line, as soldiers, not abreast, but one after another; -- generally with off. To file with, to follow closely, as one soldier after another in file; to keep pace. My endeavors Have ever come too short of my desires, Yet filed with my abilities. Shak.

FILE File, n. Etym: [AS. feól; akin to D. viji, OHG. fila, fihala, G. feile, Sw. fil, Dan. fiil, cf. Icel. , Russ. pila, and Skr. pi to cut out, adorn; perh. akin to E. paint.]

1. A steel instrument, having cutting ridges or teeth, made by indentation with a chisel, used for abrading or smoothing other substances, as metals, wood, etc.

Note: A file differs from a rasp in having the furrows made by straight cuts of a chisel, either single or crossed, while the rasp has coarse, single teeth, raised by the pyramidal end of a triangular punch.

2. Anything employed to smooth, polish, or rasp, literally or figuratively. Mock the nice touches of the critic's file. Akenside.

3. A shrewd or artful person. [Slang] Fielding. Will is an old file spite of his smooth face. Thackeray. Bastard file, Cross file, etc. See under Bastard, Cross, etc. -- Cross-cut file, a file having two sets of teeth crossing obliquely. -- File blank, a steel blank shaped and ground ready for cutting to form a file. -- File cutter, a maker of files. -- Second-cut file, a file having teeth of a grade next finer than bastard. -- Single-cut file, a file having only one set of parallel teeth; a float. -- Smooth file, a file having teeth so fine as to make an almost smooth surface.

FILE File, v. t.

1. To rub, smooth, or cut away, with a file; to sharpen with a file; as, to file a saw or a tooth.

2. To smooth or polish as with a file. Shak. File your tongue to a little more courtesy.Sir W.Scott.

FILE File, v. t. Etym: [OE. fulen, filen, foulen, AS. f, fr. fFoul, and cf. Defile, v.t.]

Defn: To make f [Obs.] All his hairy breast with blood was filed.Spenser. For Banquo's issue have I filed mind.Shak.

FILE CLOSER File" clos`er. (Mil.)

Defn: A commissioned or noncommissioned officer posted in the rear of a line, or on the flank of a column, of soldiers, to rectify mistakes and insure steadiness and promptness in the ranks.

FILEFISH File"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any plectognath fish of the genera Monacanthus, Alutera, balistes, and allied genera; -- so called on account of the roughly granulated skin, which is sometimes used in place of sandpaper.

FILEMOT Fil"e*mot, n.

Defn: See Feullemort. Swift.

FILER Fil"er, n.

Defn: One who works with a file.

FILIAL Fil"ial, a. Etym: [L. filialis, fr. filius son, filia daughter; akin to e. female, feminine. Cf. Fitz.]

1. Of or pertaining to a son or daughter; becoming to a child in relation to his parents; as, filial obedience.

2. Bearing the relation of a child. And thus the filial Godhead answering spoke. Milton.

FILIALLY Fil"ial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a filial manner.

FILIATE Fil"i*ate, v. t.

Defn: To adopt as son or daughter; to establish filiation between. [R.] Southey.

FILIATION Fil`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. filiatio, fr. L. filius son: cf. F. filiation. See Filial.]

1. The relationship of a son or child to a parent, esp. to a father. The relation of paternity and filiation. Sir M. Hale.

2. (Law)

Defn: The assignment of a bastard child to some one as its ather; affiliation. Smart.

FILIBEG Fil"i*beg, n. Etym: [Gael. feileadhbeag, i.e., little kilt; feileadh kilt + beag little, small; cf. filleadh a plait, fold.]

Defn: Same as Kilt. [Written also philibeg.]

FILIBUSTER Fil"i*bus`ter, n. Etym: [Sp. flibuster, flibustero, corrupted fr. E. freebooter. See Freebooter.]

Defn: A lawless military adventurer, especially one in quest of plunder; a freebooter; -- originally applied to buccaneers infesting the Spanish American coasts, but introduced into common English to designate the followers of Lopez in his expedition to Cuba in 1851, and those of Walker in his expedition to Nicaragua, in 1855.

FILIBUSTER Fil"i*bus*ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fillibustered; p. pr. & vb. n. Filibustering.]

1. To act as a filibuster, or military freebooter. Bartlett.

2. To delay legislation, by dilatory motions or other artifices. [political cant or slang, U.S.] Bartlett.

FILIBUSTERISM Fil"i*bus`ter*ism, n.

Defn: The characteristics or practices of a filibuster. Bartlett.

FILICAL Fil"i*cal, a.

Defn: Belonging to the Filices, r ferns.

FILICIC Fi*lic"ic, a. Etym: [L. filix, -icis, a fern.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, ferns; as, filicic acid.

FILICIDE Fil"i*cide, n. Etym: [L. filius son, filia daughter + caedere to kill.]

Defn: The act of murdering a son or a daughter; also, parent who commits such a murder.

FILICIFORM Fi*lic"i*form, a. Etym: [L. filix, -icis, fern + -form: cf. F. filiciforme]

Defn: Shaped like a fern or like the parts of a fern leaf. Smart.

FILICOID Fil"i*coid, a. Etym: [L. filix, -icis, fern + -oid: cf. F. filicoiïde.] (Bot.)

Defn: Fernlike, either in form or in the nature of the method of reproduction.

FILICOID Fil"i*coid, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A fernlike plant. Lindley.

FILIETY Fi*li"e*ty, n. Etym: [L. filietas.]

Defn: The relation of a son to a father; sonship; -- the correlative of paternity. J. S. Mill.

FILIFEROUS Fi*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. filum a thread + -ferous.]

Defn: Producing threads. Carpenter.

FILIFORM Fil"i*form, a. Etym: [L. filum thread + -form: cf. F. filiforme.]

Defn: Having the shape of a thread or filament; as, the filiform papillæ of the tongue; a filiform style or peduncle. See Illust. of AntennÆ.

FILIGRAIN; FILIGRANE Fil"i*grain, Fil"i*grane, n. Etym: [Sp. filigrana (cf. It. filigrana, E. filigrane), fr. L. filuma thread + granum grain. See File a row, and Grain, and cf. Filigree.]

Defn: Filigree. [Archaic] With her head . . . touches the crown of filigrane. Longfellow.

FILIGRANED Fil"i*graned, a.

Defn: See Filigreed. [Archaic]

FILIGREE Fil"i*gree, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. filigrane.]

Defn: Ornamental work, formerly with grains or breads, but now composed of fine wire and used chiefly in decorating gold and silver to which the wire is soldered, being arranged in designs frequently of a delicate and intricate arabesque pattern.

FILIGREE Fil"i*gree, a.

Defn: Relating to, composed of, or resembling, work in filigree; as, a filigree basket. Hence: Fanciful; unsubstantial; merely decorative. You ask for reality, not fiction and filigree work. J. C. Shairp.

FILIGREED Fil"i*greed, a.

Defn: Adorned with filigree. Tatler.

FILING Fil"ing, n.

Defn: A fragment or particle rubbed off by the act of filing; as, iron filings.

FILIOQUE Fil`i*o"que, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

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

FILIPENDULOUS Fil`i*pen"du*lous, a. Etym: [L. filum a thread + pendulus hanging, fr. pend to hang.] (Bot.)

Defn: Suspended by, or strung upon, a thread; -- said of tuberous swellings in the middle or at the extremities of slender, threadlike rootlets.

FILIPINO Fil`i*pi"no, n.; pl. Filipinos (#). [Sp.]

Defn: A native of the Philippine Islands, specif. one of Spanish descent or of mixed blood.

Then there are Filipinos, -- "children of the country," they are called, -- who are supposed to be pure-blooded descendants of Spanish settlers. But there are few of them without some touch of Chinese or native blood. The Century.

FILL Fill, n. Etym: [See Thill.]

Defn: One of the thills or shafts of a carriage. Mortimer. Fill horse, a thill horse. Shak.

FILL Fill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filled; p. pr. & vb. n. Filling.] Etym: [OE. fillen, fullen, AS. fyllan, fr. full full; akin to D. vullen, G. füllen, Icel. fylla, Sw. fylla, Dan. fylde, Goth. fulljan. See Full, a.]

1. To make full; to supply with as much as can be held or contained; to put or pour into, till no more can be received; to occupy the whole capacity of. The rain also filleth the pools. Ps. lxxxiv. 6. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. Anf they filled them up to the brim. John ii. 7.

2. To furnish an abudant supply to; to furnish with as mush as is desired or desirable; to occupy the whole of; to swarm in or overrun. And God blessed them, saying. Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas. Gen. i. 22. The Syrians filled the country. 1 Kings xx. 27.

3. To fill or supply fully with food; to feed; to satisfy. Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fillso great a multitude Matt. xv. 33. Things that are sweet and fat are more filling. Bacon.

4. To possess and perform the duties of; to officiate in, as an incumbent; to occupy; to hold; as, a king fills a throne; the president fills the office of chief magistrate; the speaker of the House fills the chair.

5. To supply with an incumbent; as, to fill an office or a vacancy. A. Hamilton.

6. (Naut.) (a) To press and dilate, as a sail; as, the wind filled the sails. (b) To trim (a yard) so that the wind shall blow on the after side of the sails.

7. (Civil Engineering)

Defn: To make an embankment in, or raise the level of (a low place), with earth or gravel. To fill in, to insert; as, he filled in the figures. -- To fill out, to extend or enlarge to the desired limit; to make complete; as, to fill out a bill. -- To fill up, to make quite full; to fill to the brim or entirely; to occupy completely; to complete. "The bliss that fills up all the mind." Pope. "And fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ." Col. i. 24.

FILL Fill, v. i.

1. To become full; to have the whole capacity occupied; to have an abundant supply; to be satiated; as, corn fills well in a warm season; the sail fills with the wind.

2. To fill a cup or glass for drinking. Give me some wine; fill full. Shak. To back and fill. See under Back, v. i. -- To fill up, to grow or become quite full; as, the channel of the river fills up with sand.

FILL Fill, n. Etym: [AS. fyllo. See Fill, v. t.]

Defn: A full supply, as much as supplies want; as much as gives complete satisfaction. "Ye shall eat your fill." Lev. xxv. 19. I'll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill. Shak.

FILLED CHEESE Filled cheese.

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

FILLER Fill"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, fills; something used for filling. 'T is mere filer, to stop a vacancy in the hexameter. Dryden. They have six diggers to four fillers, so as to keep the fillers always at work. Mortimer.

FILLER Fill"er, n. Etym: [From 1st Fill.]

Defn: A thill horse. [Prov. Eng.]

FILLET Fil"let, n. Etym: [OE. filet, felet, fr. OF. filet thread, fillet of meat, dim. of fil a thread, fr. L. filum. See Fille a row.]

1. A little band, especially one intended to encircle the hair of the head. A belt her waist, a fillet binds her hair. Pope.

2. (Cooking)

Defn: A piece of lean meat without bone; sometimes, a long strip rolled together and tied.

Note: A fillet of beef is the under side of the sirlom; also called tenderloin. A fillet of veal or mutton is the fleshy part of the thigh. A fillet of fish is a slice of flat fish without bone. "Fillet of a fenny snake." Shak.

3. A thin strip or ribbon; esp.: (a) A strip of metal from which coins are punched. (b) A strip of card clothing. (c) A thin projecting band or strip.

4. (Mach.)

Defn: A concave filling in of a reëntrant angle where two surfaces meet, forming a rounded corner.

5. (Arch.)

Defn: A narrow flat member; especially, a flat molding separating other moldings; a reglet; also, the space between two flutings in a shaft. See Illust. of Base, and Column.

6. (Her.)

Defn: An ordinary equaling in breadth one fourth of the chief, to the lowest portion of which it corresponds in position.

7. (Mech.)

Defn: The thread of a screw.

8. A border of broad or narrow lines of color or gilt.

9. The raised molding about the muzzle of a gun.

10. Any scantling smaller than a batten.

11. (Anat.)

Defn: A fascia; a band of fibers; applied esp. to certain bands of white matter in the brain.

12. (Man.)

Defn: The loins of a horse, beginning at the place where the hinder part of the saddle rests. Arris fillet. See under Arris.

FILLET Fil"let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filleted; p. pr. & vb. n. Filleting.]

Defn: To bind, furnish, or adorn with a fillet.

FILLETING Fil"let*ing, n.

1. (Arch.)

Defn: The protecting of a joint, as between roof and parapet wall, with mortar, or cement, where flashing is employed in better work.

2. The material of which fillets are made; also, fillets, collectively.

FILLIBEG Fil"li*beg, n.

Defn: A kilt. See Filibeg.

FILLIBUSTER Fil"li*bus`ter, n.

Defn: See Filibuster.

FILLING Fill"ing, n.

1. That which is used to fill a cavity or any empty space, or to supply a deficiency; as, filling for a cavity in a tooth, a depression in a roadbed, the space between exterior and interior walls of masonry, the pores of open-grained wood, the space between the outer and inner planks of a vessel, etc.

2. The woof in woven fabrics.

3. (Brewing)

Defn: Prepared wort added to ale to cleanse it. Back filling. (Arch.) See under Back, a.

FILLIP Fil"lip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filliped; p. pr. & vb. n. Filliping.] Etym: [For filp, flip. Cf. Flippant.]

1. To strike with the nail of the finger, first placed against the ball of the thumb, and forced from that position with a sudden spring; to snap with the finger. "You filip me o' the head." Shak.

2. To snap; to project quickly. The use of the elastic switch to fillip small missiles with. Tylor.

FILLIP Fil"lip, n.

1. A jerk of the finger forced suddenly from the thumb; a smart blow.

2. Something serving to rouse or excite. I take a glass of grog for a filip. Dickens.

FILLIPEEN Fil"li*peen`, n.

Defn: See Philopena.

FILLISTER Fil"lis*ter, n.

1. The rabbet on the outer edge of a sash bar to hold the glass and the putty. Knight.

2. A plane for making a rabbet. Fillister screw had, a short cylindrical screw head, having a convex top.

FILLY Fil"ly, n.; pl. Fillies. Etym: [Cf. Icel. fylia, fr. foli foal. See Foal.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A female foal or colt; a young mare. Cf. Colt, Foal. Neighing in likeness of a filly foal. Shak.

2. A lively, spirited young girl. [Colloq.] Addison.

FILM Film, n. Etym: [AS. film skin, fr. fell skin; akin to fylmen membrane, OFries. filmene skin. See Fell skin.]

1. A thin skin; a pellicle; a membranous covering, causing opacity; hence, any thin, slight covering. He from thick films shall purge the visual ray. Pope.

2. A slender thread, as that of a cobweb. Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film. Shak.

FILM Film, v. t.

Defn: To cover with a thin skin or pellicle. It will but skin and film the ulcerous place. Shak.

FILMINESS Film"i*ness, n.

Defn: State of being filmy.

FILMY Film"y, a.

Defn: Composed of film or films. Whose filmy cord should bind the struggling fly. Dryden.

FILOPLUMACEOUS Fil`o*plu*ma"ceous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the structure of a filoplume.

FILOPLUME Fil"o*plume, n. Etym: [L. filum a thread pluma a soft feather.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A hairlike feather; a father with a slender scape and without a web in most or all of its length.

FILOSE Fi"lose`, a. Etym: [L. filum a thread.]

Defn: Terminating in a threadlike process.

FILOSELLE Fil`o*selle", n. [F., floss silk.]

Defn: A kind of silk thread less glossy than floss, and spun from coarser material. It is much used in embroidery instead of floss.

FILS Fils, n. [F., fr. L. filius. See Filial.]

Defn: Son; -- sometimes used after a French proper name to distinguish a son from his father, as, Alexandre Dumas, fils.

FILTER Fil"ter, n. Etym: [F. filtre, the same word as feutre felt, LL. filtrum, feltrum, felt, fulled wool, this being used for straining liquors. See Feuter.]

Defn: Any porous substance, as cloth, paper, sand, or charcoal, through which water or other liquid may passed to cleanse it from the solid or impure matter held in suspension; a chamber or device containing such substance; a strainer; also, a similar device for purifying air. Filter bed, a pond, the bottom of which is a filter composed of sand gravel. -- Filter gallery, an underground gallery or tunnel, alongside of a stream, to collect the water that filters through the intervening sand and gravel; -- called also infiltration gallery.

FILTER Fil"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filtered; p. pr. & vb. n. Filtering] Etym: [Cf. F. filter. See Filter, n., and cf. Filtrate.]

Defn: To purify or defecate, as water or other liquid, by causing it to pass through a filter. Filtering paper, or Filter paper, a porous unsized paper, for filtering.

FILTER Fil"ter, v. i.

Defn: To pass through a filter; to percolate.

FILTER Fil"ter, n.

Defn: Same as Philter.

FILTH Filth, n. Etym: [OE. filthe, fulthe, AS. f, fr. ful foul; akin to OHG. fulida. See Foul, and cf. File.]

1. Foul matter; anything that soils or defiles; dirt; nastiness.

2. Anything that sullies or defiles the moral character; corruption; pollution. To purify the soul from the dross and filth of sensual delights. Tillotson. Filth disease (Med.), a disease supposed to be due to pollution of the soil or water.

FILTHILY Filth"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a filthy manner; foully.

FILTHINESS Filth"i*ness, n.

1. The state of being filthy. Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. 2 Cor. vii. 1.

2. That which is filthy, or makes filthy; foulness; nastiness; corruption; pollution; impurity. Carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. 2 Chron. xxix. 5.

FILTHY Filth"y, a. [Compar. Filthier; superl. Filthiest.]

Defn: Defiled with filth, whether material or moral; nasty; dirty; polluted; foul; impure; obscene. "In the filthy-mantled pool." Shak. He which is filthy let him be filthy still. Rev. xxii. 11.

Syn. -- Nasty; foul; dirty; squalid; unclean; sluttish; gross; vulgar; licentious. See Nasty.

FILTRATE Fil"trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filtrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Filtrating. (] Etym: [Cf. LL. filtrare. See Filter.]

Defn: To filter; to defecate; as liquid, by straining or percolation. Arbuthnot.

FILTRATE Fil"trate, n.

Defn: That which has been filtered; the liquid which has passed through the filter in the process of filtration.

FILTRATION Fil*tra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. filtration.]

Defn: The act or process of filtering; the mechanical separation of a liquid from the undissolved particles floating in it.

FIMBLE; FIMBLE HEMP Fim"ble, n., or Fim"ble hemp`.Etym: [Corrupted from female hemp.]

Defn: Light summer hemp, that bears no seed.

FIMBRIA Fim"bri*a, n.; pl. Fimbriæ. Etym: [L., fringe. See Fringle.] (Anat.) (a) pl.

Defn: A fringe, or fringed border. (b) A band of white matter bordering the hippocampus in the brain. -- Fim"bri*al, a.

FIMBRIATE Fim*bri*ate, a. Etym: [L. fimbriatus fibrous, fringed, fr. fimbria fiber, fringe. See Fringe.]

Defn: Having the edge or extremity bordered by filiform processes thicker than hairs; fringed; as, the fimbriate petals of the pink; the fimbriate end of the Fallopian tube.

FIMBRIATE Fim"bri*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fimbriated; p. pr. & vb. n. Fimbriating.]

Defn: To hem; to fringe. Fuller.

FIMBRIATED Fim"bri*a`ted, a.

1. Having a fringed border; fimbriate.

2. (Her.)

Defn: Having a very narrow border of another tincture; -- said esp. of an ordinary or subordinary.

FIMBRICATE Fim"bri*cate, a.

1. Fringed; jagged; fimbriate.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: fringed, on one side only, by long, straight hairs, as the antennæ of certain insects.

FIN Fin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Finned; p. pr. & vb. n. Finning.] Etym: [Cf. Fin of a fish.]

Defn: To carve or cut up, as a chub.

FIN Fin, n. Etym: [See Fine, n.]

Defn: End; conclusion; object. [Obs.] "She knew eke the fin of his intent." Chaucer.

FIN Fin, n.Etym: [OE. finne, fin, AS. finn; akin to D. vin, G. & Dan. finne, Sw. fena, L. pinna, penna, a wing, feather. cf. pen a feather.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An organ of a fish, consisting of a membrane supported by rays, or little bony or cartilaginous ossicles, and serving to balance and propel it in the water.

Note: Fishes move through the water chiefly by means of the caudal fin or tail, the principal office of the other fins being to balance or direct the body, though they are also, to a certain extent, employed in producing motion.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A membranous, finlike, swimming organ, as in pteropod and heteropod mollusks.

3. A finlike organ or attachment; a part of an object or product which protrudes like a fin, as: (a) The hand. [Slang] (b) (Com.) A blade of whalebone. [Eng.] McElrath. (c) (Mech.) A mark or ridge left on a casting at the junction of the parts of a mold. (d) (Mech.) The thin sheet of metal squeezed out between the collars of the rolls in the process of rolling. Raymond. (e) (Mech.) A feather; a spline.

4. A finlike appendage, as to submarine boats. Apidose fin. (Zoöl.) See under Adipose, a. -- Fin ray (Anat.), one of the hornlike, cartilaginous, or bony, dermal rods which form the skeleton of the fins of fishes. -- Fin whale (Zoöl.), a finback. -- Paired fins (Zoöl.), the pectoral and ventral fins, corresponding to the fore and hind legs of the higher animals. -- Unpaired, or Median, fins (Zoöl.), the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins.

FINABLE Fin"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Fine.]

Defn: Liable or subject to a fine; as, a finable person or offense. Bacon.

FINAL Fi"nal, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. finalis, fr. finis boundary, limit, end. See Finish.]

1. Pertaining to the end or conclusion; last; terminating; ultimate; as, the final day of a school term. Yet despair not of his final pardon. Milton.

2. Conclusive; decisive; as, a final judgment; the battle of Waterloo brought the contest to a final issue.

3. Respecting an end or object to be gained; respecting the purpose or ultimate end in view. Final cause. See under Cause.

Syn. -- Final, Conclusive, Ultimate. Final is now appropriated to that which brings with it an end; as, a final adjustment; the final judgment, etc. Conclusive implies the closing of all discussion, negotiation, etc.; as, a conclusive argument or fact; a conclusive arrangement. In using ultimate, we have always reference to something earlier or proceeding; as when we say, a temporary reverse may lead to an ultimate triumph. The statements which a man finally makes at the close of a negotiation are usually conclusive as to his ultimate intentions and designs.

FINALE Fi*na"le, n. Etym: [It. See Final.]

Defn: Close; termination; as: (a) (Mus.) The last movement of a symphony, sonata, concerto, or any instrumental composition. (b) The last composition performed in any act of an opera. (c) The closing part, piece, or scene in any public performance or exhibition.

FINALIST Fi"nal*ist, n. (Sports)

Defn: Any of the players who meet in the final round of a tournament in which the losers in any round do not play again.

FINALITY Fi*nal"i*ty, n.; pl. Finalities. Etym: [L. finalitas the being last.]

1. The state of being final, finished, or complete; a final or conclusive arrangement; a settlement. Baxter.

2. The relation of end or purpose to its means. Janet.

FINALLY Fi"nal*ly, adv.

1. At the end or conclusion; ultimately; lastly; as, the contest was long, but the Romans finally conquered. Whom patience finally must crown. Milton.

2. Completely; beyond recovery. Not any house of noble English in Ireland was utterly destroyed or finally rooted out. Sir J. Davies.

FINANCE Fi*nance", n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. financia payment of money, money, fr. finare to pay a fine or subsidy (cf. OF. finer to finish, pay), fr. L. finis end. See Fine, n., Finish.]

1. The income of a ruler or of a state; revennue; public money; sometimes, the income of an individual; often used in the plural for funds; available money; resources. All the finances or revenues of the imperial crown. Bacon.

2. The science of raising and expending the public revenue. "Versed in the details of finance." Macaulay.

FINANCIAL Fi*nan"cial, a.

Defn: Pertaining to finance. "Our financial and commercial system." Macaulay.

FINANCIALIST Fi*nan"cial*ist, n.

Defn: A financier.

FINANCIALLY Fi*nan"cial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a dfinancial manner. Burke.

FINANCIER Fin`an*cier", n. Etym: [Cf. F. financier.]

1. One charged with the administration of finance; an officer who administers the public revenue; a treasurer. Burke.

2. One skilled in financial operations; one acquainted with money matters.

FINANCIER Fin`an*cier", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Financiered; p. pr. & vb. n. Financiering.]

Defn: To conduct financial operations.

FINARY Fin"a*ry, n. (Iron Works)

Defn: See Finery.

FINATIVE Fi"na*tive, a.

Defn: Conclusive; decisive; definitive; final. [Obs.] Greene (1593).

FINBACK Fin"back`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any whale of the genera Sibbaldius, Balænoptera, and allied genera, of the family Balænopteridæ, characterized by a prominent fin on the back. The common finbacks of the New England coast are Sibbaldius tectirostris and S. tuberosus.

FINBAT KITE Fin"bat kite.

Defn: = Eddy kite. [Eng.]

FINCH Finch, n.; pl. Fishes. Etym: [AS. finc; akin to D. vink, OHG. fincho, G. fink; cf. W. pinc a finch; also E. spink.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small singing bird of many genera and species, belonging to the family Fringillidæ.

Note: The word is often used in composition, as in chaffinch, goldfinch, grassfinch, pinefinch, etc. Bramble finch. See Brambling. -- Canary finch, the canary bird. -- Copper finch. See Chaffinch. -- Diamond finch. See under Diamond. -- Finch falcon (Zoöl.), one of several very small East Indian falcons of the genus Hierax. -- To pull a finch, to swindle an ignorant or unsuspecting person. [Obs.] "Privily a finch eke could he pull." Chaucer.

FINCHBACKED Finch"backed`, a.

Defn: Streaked or spotted on the back; -- said of cattle.

FINCHED Finched, a.

Defn: Same as Finchbacked.

FIND Find, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Found; p. pr. & vb. n. Finding.] Etym: [AS. findan; akin to D. vinden, OS. & OHG. findan, G. finden, Dan. finde, icel. & Sw. finna, Goth. fin; and perh. to L. petere to seek, Gr. pat to fall, fly, E. petition.]

1. To meet with, or light upon, accidentally; to gain the first sight or knowledge of, as of something new, or unknown; hence, to fall in with, as a person. Searching the window for a flint, I found This paper, thus sealed up. Shak. In woods and forests thou art found. Cowley.

2. To learn by experience or trial; to perceive; to experience; to discover by the intellect or the feelings; to detect; to feel. "I find you passing gentle." Shak. The torrid zone is now found habitable. Cowley.

3. To come upon by seeking; as, to find something lost. (a) To discover by sounding; as, to find bottom. (b) To discover by study or experiment direct to an object or end; as, water is found to be a compound substance. (c) To gain, as the object of desire or effort; as, to find leisure; to find means. (d) To attain to; to arrive at; to acquire. Seek, and ye shall find. Matt. vii. 7. Every mountain now hath found a tongue. Byron.

4. To provide for; to supply; to furnish; as, to find food for workemen; he finds his nephew in money. Wages £14 and all found. London Times. Nothing a day and find yourself. Dickens.

5. To arrive at, as a conclusion; to determine as true; to establish; as, to find a verdict; to find a true bill (of indictment) against an accused person. To find his title with some shows of truth. Shak. To find out, to detect (a thief); to discover (a secret) -- to solve or unriddle (a parable or enigma); to understand. "Canst thou by searching find out God" Job. xi. 7. "We do hope to find out all your tricks." Milton. -- To find fault with, to blame; to censure. -- To find one's self, to be; to fare; -- often used in speaking of health; as, how do you find yourself this morning

FIND Find, v. i. (Law)

Defn: To determine an issue of fact, and to declare such a determination to a court; as, the jury find for the plaintiff. Burrill.

FIND Find, n.

Defn: Anything found; a discovery of anything valuable; especially, a deposit, discovered by archæologists, of objects of prehistoric or unknown origin.

FINDABLE Find"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being found; discoverable. Fuller.

FINDER Find"er, n.

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

FIN DE SIECLE Fin` de siè"cle. [F.]

Defn: Lit., end of the century; -- mostly used adjectively in English to signify: belonging to, or characteristic of, the close of the 19th century; modern; "up-to-date;" as, fin-de-siècle ideas.

FINDFAULT Find"fault`, n.

Defn: A censurer or caviler. [Obs.]

FINDFAULTING Find"fault`ing, a.

Defn: Apt to censure or cavil; faultfinding; captious. [Obs.] Whitlock.

FINDING Find"ing, n.

1. That which is found, come upon, or provided; esp. (pl.), that which a journeyman artisan finds or provides for himself; as tools, trimmings, etc. When a man hath been laboring . . . in the deep mines of knowledge, hath furnished out his findings in all their equipage. Milton.

2. Support; maintenance; that which is provided for one; expence; provision.

3. (Law)

Defn: The result of a judicial examination or inquiry, especially into some matter of fact; a verdict; as, the finding of a jury. Burrill. After his friends finding and his rent. Chaucer.

FINDY Fin"dy, a. Etym: [AS. finding heavy; cf. Dan. fyndig strong, energetical, fynd strength, energy, emphasis.]

Defn: Full; heavy; firm; solid; substemtial. [Obs.] A cold May and a windy Makes the barn fat amd findy. Old Prover

FINE Fine, a. [Compar. Finer; superl. Finest.] Etym: [F. fin, LL. finus fine, pure, fr. L. finire to finish; cf. finitus, p.p., finished, completed (hence the sense accomplished, perfect.) See Finish, and cf. Finite.]

1. Finished; brought to perfection; refined; hence, free from impurity; excellent; superior; elegant; worthy of admiration; accomplished; beautiful. The gain thereof [is better] than fine gold. Prov. iii. 14. A cup of wine that's brisk and fine. Shak. Not only the finest gentleman of his time, but one of the finest scholars. Felton. To soothe the sick bed of so fine a being [Keats]. Leigh Hunt.

2. Aiming at show or effect; loaded with ornament; overdressed or overdecorated; showy. He gratified them with occasional . . . fine writing. M. Arnold.

3. Nice; delicate; subtle; exquisite; artful; skillful; dexterous. The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine! Pope. The nicest and most delicate touches of satire consist in fine raillery. Dryden. He has as fine a hand at picking a pocket as a woman. T. Gray.

4. Not coarse, gross, or heavy; as: (a) Not gross; subtile; thin; tenous. The eye standeth in the finer medium and the object in the grosser. Bacon.

(b) Not coarse; comminuted; in small particles; as, fine sand or flour. (c) Not thick or heavy; slender; filmy; as, a fine thread. (d) Thin; attenuate; keen; as, a fine edge. (e) Made of fine materials; light; delicate; as, fine linen or silk.

5. Having (such) a proportion of pure metal in its composition; as, coins nine tenths fine.

6. (Used ironically.) Ye have made a fine hand, fellows. Shak.

Note: Fine is often compounded with participles and adjectives, modifying them adverbially; a, fine-drawn, fine-featured, fine- grained, fine-spoken, fine-spun, etc. Fine arch (Glass Making), the smaller fritting furnace of a glasshouse. Knight. -- Fine arts. See the Note under Art. -- Fine cut, fine cut tobacco; a kind of chewing tobacco cut up into shreds. -- Fine goods, woven fabrics of fine texture and quality. McElrath. -- Fine stuff, lime, or a mixture of lime, plaster, etc., used as material for the finishing coat in plastering. -- To sail fine (Naut.), to sail as close to the wind as possible.

Syn. -- Fine, Beautiful. When used as a word of praise, fine (being opposed to coarse) denotes no "ordinary thing of its kind." It is not as strong as beautiful, in reference to the single attribute implied in the latter term; but when we speak of a fine woman, we include a greater variety of particulars, viz., all the qualities which become a woman, -- breeding, sentiment, tact, etc. The term is equally comprehensive when we speak of a fine garden, landscape, horse, poem, etc.; and, though applied to a great variety of objects, the word has still a very definite sense, denoting a high degree of characteristic excellence.

FINE Fine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fined; p. pr. & vb. n. Fining.] Etym: [From Fine, a.]

1. To make fine; to refine; to purify, to clarify; as, to fine gold. It hath been fined and refined by . . . learned men. Hobbes.

2. To make finer, or less coarse, as in bulk, texture, etc.; as. to fine the soil. L. H. Bailey.

3. To change by fine gradations; as (Naut.), to fine down a ship's lines, to diminish her lines gradually. I often sate at home On evenings, watching how they fined themselves With gradual conscience to a perfect night. Browning.

FINE Fine, n. Etym: [OE. fin, L. finis end, also in LL., a final agreement or concord between the lord and his vassal; a sum of money paid at the end, so as to make an end of a transaction, suit, or prosecution; mulct; penalty; cf. OF. fin end, settlement, F. fin end. See Finish, and cf. Finance.]

1. End; conclusion; termination; extinction. [Obs.] "To see their fatal fine." Spenser. Is this the fine of his fines Shak.

2. A sum of money paid as the settlement of a claim, or by way of terminating a matter in dispute; especially, a payment of money imposed upon a party as a punishment for an offense; a mulct.

3. (Law) (a) (Feudal Law) A final agreement concerning lands or rents between persons, as the lord and his vassal. Spelman. (b) (Eng. Law) A sum of money or price paid for obtaining a benefit, favor, or privilege, as for admission to a copyhold, or for obtaining or renewing a lease. Fine for alienation (Feudal Law), a sum of money paid to the lord by a tenant whenever he had occasion to make over his land to another. Burrill. -- Fine of lands, a species of conveyance in the form of a fictitious suit compromised or terminated by the acknowledgment of the previous owner that such land was the right of the other party. Burrill. See Concord, n., 4. -- In fine, in conclusion; by way of termination or summing up.

FINE Fine, v. t. Etym: [From Fine, n.]

Defn: To impose a pecuniary penalty upon for an offense or breach of law; to set a fine on by judgment of a court; to punish by fine; to mulct; as, the trespassers were fined ten dollars.

FINE Fine, v. i.

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

FINE Fine, v. t. & i. Etym: [OF. finer, F. finir. See Finish, v. t.]

Defn: To finish; to cease; or to cause to cease. [Obs.]

FINEDRAW Fine"draw`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Finedrawn; p. pr. & vb. n. Finedrawing.]

Defn: To sew up, so nicely that the seam is not perceived; to renter. Marryat.

FINEDRAWER Fine"draw`er, n.

Defn: One who finedraws.

FINEDRAWN Fine"drawn`, a.

Defn: Drawn out with too much subtilty; overnice; as, finedrawn speculations.

FINEER Fi*neer", v. i.

Defn: To run in dept by getting goods made up in a way unsuitable for the use of others, and then threatening not to take them except on credit. [R.] Goldsmith.

FINEER Fi*neer", v. t.

Defn: To veneer.

FINELESS Fine"less, a. Etym: [Fine end + -less.]

Defn: Endless; boundless. [Obs.] Shak.

FINELY Fine"ly, adv.

Defn: In a fine or finished manner.

FINENESS Fine"ness, n. Etym: [From Fine, a.]

1. The quality or condition of being fine.

2. Freedom from foreign matter or alloy; clearness; purity; as, the fineness of liquor. The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion. Shak.

3. The proportion of pure silver or gold in jewelry, bullion, or coins.

Note: The fineness of United States coin is nine tenths, that of English gold coin is eleven twelfths, and that of English silver coin is

4. Keenness or sharpness; as, the fineness of a needle's point, or of the edge of a blade.

FINER Fin"er, n.

Defn: One who fines or purifies.

FINERY Fin"er*y, n.

1. Fineness; beauty. [Obs.] Don't choose your place of study by the finery of the prospects. I. Watts.

2. Ornament; decoration; especially, excecially decoration; showy clothes; jewels. Her mistress' cast-off finery. F. W. Robertson.

3. Etym: [Cf. Refinery.] (Iron Works)

Defn: A charcoal hearth or furnace for the conversion of cast iron into wrought iron, or into iron suitable for puddling.

FINESPUN Fine"spun`, a.

Defn: Spun so as to be fine; drawn to a fine thread; attenuated; hence, unsubstantial; visionary; as, finespun theories.

FINESSE Fi`nesse" ( or ), n. Etym: [F., fr. fin fine. See Fine, a.]

1. Subtilty of contrivance to gain a point; artifice; stratagem. This is the artificialest piece of finesse to persuade men into slavery. Milton.

2. (Whist Playing)

Defn: The act of finessing. See Finesse, v. i., 2.

FINESSE Fi*nesse", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Finessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Finessing.]

1. To use artifice or stratagem. Goldsmith.

2. (Whist Playing)

Defn: To attempt, when second or third player, to make a lower card answer the purpose of a higher, when an intermediate card is out, risking the chance of its being held by the opponent yet to play.

FINESTILL Fine"still`, v. t.

Defn: To distill, as spirit from molasses or some saccharine preparation.

FINESTILLER Fine"still`er, n.

Defn: One who finestills.

FINEW Fin"ew, n. Etym: [See Fenowed.]

Defn: Moldiness. [R.]

FINFISH Fin"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A finback whale. (b) (pl.) True fish, as distinguished from shellfish.

FINFOOT Fin"foot`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A South American bird (heliornis fulica) allied to the grebes. The name is also applied to several related species of the genus Podica.

FIN-FOOTED Fin"-foot`ed, a. (Zoöl.) (a) Having palmate feet. (b) Having lobate toes, as the coot and grebe.

FINGER Fin"ger, n. Etym: [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.]

1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extermities of the hand, other than the thumb.

2. Anything that does work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion.

3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard. A piece of steel three fingers thick. Bp. Wilkins.

4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [R.] She has a good finger. Busby. Ear finger, the little finger. -- Finger alphabet. See Dactylology. -- Finger bar, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play. -- Finger board (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual. -- Finger bowl or glass, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table. -- Finger flower (Bot.), the foxglove. -- Finger grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Panicum sanguinale) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See Crab grass, under Crab. -- Finger nut, a fly nut or thumb nut. -- Finger plate, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks. -- Finger post, a guide post bearing an index finger. -- Finger reading, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind. -- Finger shell (Zoöl.), a marine shell (Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form. -- Finger sponge (Zoöl.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches. -- Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger. -- Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife. To burn one's fingers. See under Burn. -- To have a finger in, to be concerned in. [Colloq.] -- To have at one's fingers' ends, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.]

FINGER Fin"ger, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fingered; p. pr. & vb. n. Fingering.]

1. To touch with the fingers; to handle; to meddle with. Let the papers lie; You would be fingering them to anger me. Shak.

2. To touch lightly; to toy with.

3. (Mus.) (a) To perform on an instrument of music. (b) To mark the notes of (a piece of music) so as to guide the fingers in playing.

4. To take thievishly; to pilfer; to purloin. Shak.

5. To execute, as any delicate work.

FINGER Fin"ger, v. i. (Mus.)

Defn: To use the fingers in playing on an instrument. Busby.

FINGERED Fin"gered, a.

1. Having fingers.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Having leaflets like fingers; digitate.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: Marked with figures designating which finger should be used for each note.

FINGERER Fin"ger*er, n.

Defn: One who fingers; a pilferer.

FINGERING Fin"ger*ing, n.

1. The act or process of handling or touching with the fingers. The mere sight and fingering of money. Grew.

2. The manner of using the fingers in playing or striking the keys of an instrument of music; movement or management of the fingers in playing on a musical instrument, in typewriting, etc.

3. The marking of the notes of a piece of music to guide or regulate the action or use of the fingers.

4. Delicate work made with the fingers. Spenser.

FINGERLING Fin"ger*ling, n. Etym: [Finger + -ling.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A young salmon. See Parr.

FINGLE-FANGLE Fin"gle-fan`gle, n. Etym: [From fangle.]

Defn: A trifle. [Low] Hudibras.

FINGRIGO Fin"gri*go, n.; pl. Fingrigos. Etym: [So called in Jamaica.] (Bot.)

Defn: A prickly, climbing shrub of the genus Pisonia. The fruit is a kind of berry.

FINIAL Fin"*i*al, n. Etym: [L. finire to finish, end. See Finish.] (Arch.)

Defn: The knot or bunch of foliage, or foliated ornament, that forms the upper extremity of a pinnacle in Gothic architecture; sometimes, the pinnacle itself.

FINICAL Fin"i*cal, a. Etym: [From Fine, a.]

Defn: Affectedly fine; overnice; unduly particular; fastidious. "Finical taste." Wordsworth. The gross style consists in giving no detail, the finical in giving nothing else. Hazlitt.

Syn. -- Finical, Spruce, Foppish. These words are applied to persons who are studiously desirous to cultivate finery of appearance. One who is spruce is elaborately nice in dress; one who is finical shows his affectation in language and manner as well as in dress; one who is foppish distinguishes himself by going to the extreme of the fashion in the cut of his clothes, by the tawdriness of his ornaments, and by the ostentation of his manner. "A finical gentleman clips his words and screws his body into as small a compass as possible, to give himself the air of a delicate person; a spruce gentleman strives not to have a fold wrong in his frill or cravat, nor a hair of his head to lie amiss; a foppish gentleman seeks . . . to render himself distinguished for finery." Crabb. -- Fin"i*cal*ly, adv. -- Fin"i*cal*ness, n.

FINICALITY Fin`i*cal"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being finical; finicalness.

FINICKING; FINICKY Fin"ick*ing, Fin"ick*y, a.

Defn: Finical; unduly particular. [Colloq.]