FERRULE, fer'il, or fer'[=oo]l, _n._ a metal ring or cap on a staff, &c., to keep it from splitting.--Also FERR'EL. [O. Fr. _virole_--L. _viriola_, a bracelet.]
FERRY, fer'i, _v.t._ to carry or convey over a water in a boat:--_pr.p._ ferr'ying; _pa.p._ ferr'ied.--_n._ a place where one is carried by boat across a water: the right of conveying passengers: the ferry-boat.--_ns._ FERR'IAGE, provision for ferrying: the fare paid for such; FERR'Y-BOAT; FERR'Y-MAN. [A.S. _ferian_, to convey, _faran_, to go; Ger. _fahre_, a ferry--_fahren_, to go, to carry.]
FERTILE, f[.e]r'til, _adj._ able to bear or produce abundantly: rich in resources: inventive: fertilising.--_adv._ FER'TILELY.--_n._ FERTILIS[=A]'TION, the act or process of fertilising.--_v.t._ FER'TILISE, to make fertile or fruitful: to enrich.--_ns._ FER'TILISER, one who, or that which, fertilises; FERTIL'ITY, fruitfulness: richness: abundance.
[Fr.,--L. _fertilis_--_ferre_, to bear.]
FERULE, fer'[=oo]l, _n._ a cane or rod used for striking children in punishment.--_n._ FER'ULA, a staff of command.--_adj._ FERUL[=A]'CEOUS, pertaining to canes or reeds. [L. _ferula_, a cane--_fer[=i]re_, to strike.]
FERVENT, f[.e]r'vent, _adj._ ardent: zealous: warm in feeling.--_n._ FER'VENCY, eagerness: warmth of devotion.--_adv._ FER'VENTLY.--_adjs._ FERVES'CENT, growing hot; FER'VID, very hot: having burning desire or emotion: zealous.--_n._ FERVID'ITY.--_adv._ FER'VIDLY.--_ns._ FER'VIDNESS; FER'VOUR, heat: heat of mind, zeal. [Fr.,--L. _ferv[=e]re_, to boil.]
FESCENNINE, fes'e-nin, _adj._ scurrilous.--FESCENNINE VERSES consisted of dialogues in rude extempore verses, generally in Saturnian measure, in which the parties rallied and ridiculed one another. The style, afterwards popular at Rome, originated in the Etruscan town _Fescennium_.
FESCUE, fes'k[=u], _n._ a genus of grasses, very nearly allied to Brome-grass, and including many valuable pasture and fodder grasses: a small straw or wire used to point out letters to children when learning to read. [O. Fr. _festu_--L. _fest[=u]ca_, a straw.]
FESSE, FESS, fes, _n._ (_her._) one of the ordinaries--a band over the middle of an escutcheon, one-third its breadth. [Fr. _fasce_--L. _fascia_, a band.]
FESTAL, fes'tal, _adj._ pertaining to a feast or holiday: joyous: gay.--_adv._ FES'TALLY.--_n._ FESTIL'OGY, a treatise on ecclesiastical festivals.
FESTER, fes't[.e]r, _v.i._ to become corrupt or malignant: to suppurate.--_v.t._ to cause to fester or rankle.--_n._ a wound discharging corrupt matter. [O. Fr. _festre_--L. _fistula_, an ulcer.]
FESTINATE, fes'ti-n[=a]t, _v.t._ to accelerate.--_adj._ (_Shak._) hurried, hasty.--_adv._ FES'TINATELY (_Shak._), hastily.--_n._ FESTIN[=A]'TION. [L.
_festina[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to hurry.]
FESTIVE, fes'tiv, _adj._ festal: mirthful.--_n._ FES'TIVAL, a joyful celebration: a feast.--_adv._ FES'TIVELY.--_n._ FESTIV'ITY, social mirth: joyfulness: gaiety.--_adj._ FES'TIVOUS, festive. [L. _festivus_--_festus_.]
FESTOON, fes-t[=oo]n', _n._ a garland suspended between two points: (_archit._) an ornament like a wreath of flowers, &c.--_v.t._ to adorn with festoons.--_n._ FESTOON'-BLIND, a window-blind of cloth gathered into rows of festoons in its width. [Fr. _feston_--Low L. _festo_(_n-_), a garland--L. _festum_.]
FET, FETT, fet, _v.t._ obsolete form of _fetch_.
FETAL. See FOETUS.
FETCH, fech, _v.t._ to bring: to go and get: to obtain as its price: to accomplish in any way: to bring down, to cause to yield: to reach or attain.--_v.i._ to turn: (_naut._) to arrive at.--_n._ the act of bringing: space carried over: a stratagem.--_adj._ FETCH'ING, fascinating.--FETCH AND CARRY, to perform humble services for another; FETCH A PUMP, to pour water in so as to make it draw; FETCH OUT, to draw forth, develop; FETCH TO, to revive, as from a swoon; FETCH UP, to recover: to come to a sudden stop.
[A.S. _feccan_, an altered form of _fetian_, to fetch; cf. Ger. _fassen_, to seize.]
FETCH, fech, _n._ the apparition, double, or wraith of a living person.--_n._ FETCH'-CAN'DLE, a nocturnal light, supposed to portend a death. [Ety. unknown.]
FeTE, f[=a]t, _n._ a festival: a holiday.--_v.t._ to entertain at a feast.--_n._ FeTE'-DAY, a birthday.--FeTE CHAMPeTRE, an outdoor entertainment. [Fr.]
FETIAL, f[=e]'shal, _adj._ pertaining to the Roman _fetiales_, heraldic, ambassadorial.--Also F[=E]'CIAL.
FETICH, FETISH, f[=e]'tish, _n._ an object, either natural or artificial, capable of being appropriated by an individual whose possession of it procures the services of a spirit lodged within it.--_ns._ F[=E]'TICHISM, F[=E]'TISHISM, the worship of a fetich: a belief in charms.--_adjs._ FETICHIST'IC, FETISHIST'IC. [Fr. _fetiche_--Port. _feitico_, magic: a name given by the Portuguese to the gods of West Africa--Port. _feitico_, artificial--L. _factitius_--_fac[)e]re_, to make.]
FETICIDE. See FOETUS.
FETID, f[=e]'tid, or fet'id, _adj._ stinking: having a strong offensive odour.--_ns._ F[=E]'TIDNESS, F[=E]'TOR, FOE'TOR. [L.
_foetidus_--_foet[=e]re_, to stink.]
FETLOCK, fet'lok, _n._ a tuft of hair that grows behind on horses' feet: the part where this hair grows.--_adj._ FET'LOCKED, tied by the fetlock.
[History obscure; often explained as compounded of _foot_ and _lock_ (of hair); cf. Ger. _fiszloch_.]
FETTER, fet'[.e]r, _n._ a chain or shackle for the feet: anything that restrains--used chiefly in _pl._--_v.t._ to put fetters on: to restrain.--_adjs._ FETT'ERED, bound by fetters: (_zool._) of feet bent backward and apparently unfit for walking; FETT'ERLESS, without fetters, unrestrained.--_n._ FETT'ERLOCK (_her._) a shackle or lock. [A.S.
_feter_--_fet_, feet, pl. of _fot_, foot.]
FETTLE, fet'l, _v.t._ (_prov._) to arrange, mend.--_v.i._ to potter fussily about.--_n._ preparedness, ready condition. [Prob. A.S. _fetel_, a belt.]
FETUS. See FOETUS.
FEU, f[=u], _n._ (_Scot._) a tenure where the vassal, in place of military services, makes a return in grain or in money: a right to the use of land, houses, &c., in perpetuity, for a stipulated annual payment (FEU'-D[=U]'TY).--_v.t._ to vest in one who undertakes to pay the feu-duty--_n._ FEU'AR, one who holds real estate in consideration of a payment called feu-duty. [O. Fr. _feu_. See the variant FEE.]
FEUD, f[=u]d, _n._ a war waged by private individuals, families, or clans against one another on their own account: a bloody strife.--RIGHT OF FEUD, the right to protect one's self and one's kinsmen, and punish injuries. [O.
Fr. _faide_, _feide_--Low L. _faida_--Old High Ger. _f[=e]hida_. See FOE.]
FEUD, f[=u]d, _n._ a fief or land held on condition of service.--_adj._ FEUD'AL, pertaining to feuds or fiefs: belonging to feudalism.--_n._ FEUDALIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ FEUD'ALISE.--_ns._ FEUD'ALISM, the system, during the Middle Ages, by which vassals held lands from lords-superior on condition of military service; FEUD'ALIST; FEUDAL'ITY, the state of being feudal: the feudal system.--_adv._ FEUD'ALLY.--_adjs._ FEUD'ARY, FEUD'ATORY, holding lands or power by a feudal tenure--also _ns._--_ns._ FEUD'IST, a writer on feuds: one versed in the laws of feudal tenure. [Low L. _feudum_, from root of _fee_.]
FEUILLETON, f[.e]'lye-tong, _n._ the portion of a newspaper set apart for intelligence of a non-political character--criticisms on art or letters, or a serial story--usually marked off by a line.--_n._ FEUIL'LETONISM, superficial qualities in literature, &c. [Fr. dim. of _feuillet_, a leaf--L. _folium_, a leaf.]
FEVER, f[=e]'v[.e]r, _n._ disease marked by great bodily heat and quickening of pulse: extreme excitement of the passions, agitation: a painful degree of anxiety.--_v.t._ to put into a fever.--_v.i._ to become fevered.--_adj._ F[=E]'VERED, affected with fever, excited.--_ns._ F[=E]'VER-FEW, a composite perennial closely allied to camomile, so called from its supposed power as a febrifuge; F[=E]'VER-HEAT, the heat of fever: an excessive degree of excitement.--_adj._ F[=E]'VERISH, slightly fevered: indicating fever: fidgety: fickle: morbidly eager.--_adv._ F[=E]'VERISHLY.--_n._ F[=E]'VERISHNESS.--_adj._ F[=E]'VEROUS, feverish: marked by sudden changes. [A.S. _fefor_--L. _febris_.]
FEW, f[=u], _adj._ small in number: not many.--_n._ FEW'NESS.--A FEW, used colloquially for 'a good bit;' A GOOD FEW, a considerable number; IN FEW=in a few (words), briefly; SOME FEW, an inconsiderable number; THE FEW, the minority. [A.S. _fea_, pl. _feawe_; Fr. _peu_; L. _paucus_, small.]
FEWTER, f[=u]'t[.e]r, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to set close, to fix in rest, as a spear. [O. Fr. _feutre_--_feutre_, felt.]
FEWTRILS, f[=u]'trilz, _n.pl._ (_prov._) little things, trifles. [See FATTRELS.]
FEY, FAY, f[=a], _adj._ doomed, fated soon to die, under the shadow of a sudden or violent death--often marked by extravagantly high spirits. [M. E.
_fay_, _fey_--A.S. _f['ae]ge_, doomed; cf. Dut. _veeg_, about to die.]
FEZ, fez, _n._ a red brimless cap of wool or felt, fitting closely to the head, with a tassel of black or blue, worn in Turkey, Egypt, &c.--in Africa usually called _tarbush_. [From _Fez_ in Morocco.]
FIACRE, f[=e]-a'kr, _n._ a hackney-coach. [Fr., from the Hotel de St _Fiacre_ in Paris, where first used.]
FIANCeE, f[=e]-ong-s[=a]', _n._ a woman betrothed:--_masc._ FIANCe. [Fr., _fiancer_, to betroth--L. _fidentia_, confidence, _fid[)e]re_, to trust.]
FIARS, f[=i]'arz, _n.pl._ (_Scot._) the prices of grain legally _struck_ or fixed for the year at the _Fiars_ Court, so as to regulate the payment of stipend, rent, and prices not expressly agreed upon. [Conn. with _fiar_, the holder of a _fee_ (q.v.).]
FIASCO, fi-as'ko, _n._ a failure in a musical performance: a failure of any kind. [It. _fiasco_, bottle, perh. from L. _vasculum_, a little vessel, _vas_, a vessel.]
FIAT, f[=i]'at, _n._ a formal or solemn command: a short order or warrant of a judge for making out or allowing processes, letters-patent, &c.--(_Spens._) F[=I]'AUN.--_v.t._ to sanction, [L. 'let it be done,' 3d pers. sing. pres. subj. of _fi[)e]ri_, passive of _fac[)e]re_, to do.]
FIB, fib, _n._ something said falsely: a mild expression for a lie.--_v.i._ to tell a fib or lie: to speak falsely:--_pr.p._ fib'bing; _pa.p._ fibbed.--_ns._ FIB'BER, one who fibs; FIB'BERY (_rare_), the habit of fibbing; FIB'STER, a fibber. [An abbrev. of _fable_.]
FIBRE, f[=i]'b[.e]r, _n._ a conglomeration of thread-like tissue such as exists in animals or vegetables: any fine thread, or thread-like substance: material, substance.--_adjs._ F[=I]'BRED, having fibres; F[=I]'BRELESS, having no fibres; F[=I]'BRIFORM, fibrous in form or structure.--_ns._ F[=I]'BRIL, a small fibre; one of the extremely minute threads composing an animal fibre; FIBRIL'LA, a fibril, filament.--_n.pl._ FIBRIL'Lae.--_n._ FIBRILL[=A]'TION, the process of becoming fibrillated.--_adj._ F[=I]'BRILLOUS, formed of small fibres.--_ns._ F[=I]'BRIN, a proteid substance which appears in the blood after it is shed, and by its appearance gives rise to the process of coagulation or clotting; FIBRIN[=A]'TION, the process of adding fibrin to the blood.--_adj._ F[=I]'BRINOUS, of or like fibrin.--_n._ FIBROCAR'TILAGE, a firm elastic material like fibrous tissue and cartilage.--_adj._ F[=I]'BROID, of a fibrous character.--_ns._ F[=I]'BROIN, the chief chemical constituent of silk, cobwebs, and the horny skeleton of sponges; FIBR[=O]'MA, a tumour or growth consisting largely of fibrous matter; FIBR[=O]'SIS, a morbid growth of fibrous matter.--_adj._ F[=I]'BROUS, composed of fibres.--_n._ F[=I]'BROUSNESS. [Fr.,--L. _fibra_, a thread.]
FIBROLINE, fib'r[=o]-l[=e]n, _n._ a yarn manufactured from the waste in hemp, flax, and jute spinning works, for backs of carpets, &c.
FIBULA, fib'[=u]-la, _n._ a clasp or buckle; the outer of the two bones from the knee to the ankle.--_adjs._ FIB'ULAR, FIB'ULATE, FIB'ULOUS. [L.]
FICHU, f[=e]-shu', _n._ a three-cornered cape worn over the shoulders, the ends crossed upon the bosom: a triangular piece of muslin, &c., for the neck. [Fr.]