FINISH, fin'ish, _v.t._ to end or complete the making of anything: to
perfect: to give the last touches to: to put an end to, to destroy.--_n._
that which finishes or completes: the end of a race, hunt, &c.: last touch,
careful elaboration, polish: the last coat of plaster to a wall.--_p.adj._
FIN'ISHED, brought to an end or to completion: complete: perfect.--_n._
FIN'ISHER, one who finishes, completes, or perfects: in bookbinding, the
one who puts the last touches to the book in the way of gilding and
decoration. [Fr. _finir_, _finissant_--L. _fin[=i]re_--_finis_, an end.]
FINITE, f[=i]'n[=i]t, _adj._ having an end or limit: subject to limitations
or conditions, as time, space--opp. to _Infinite_ (q.v.).--_adj._
F[=I]'N[=I]TELESS, without end or limit.--_adv._ F[=I]'N[=I]TELY.--_ns._
F[=I]'N[=I]TENESS, FIN'IT[=U]DE. [L. _fin[=i]tus_, pa.p. of _fin[=i]re_.]
FINN, fin, _n._ a native of _Finland_ in the north-west of Russia.--_adjs._
FIN'NIC, FIN'NISH, pertaining to the Finns in the widest sense.
FINNAN-HADDOCK, fin'an-had'uk, _n._ a kind of smoked haddock, esp. that
prepared at _Findon_, near Aberdeen.--Also FIN'DON-HADD'OCK.
FIORD, FJORD, fyord, _n._ name given in Scandinavia to a long, narrow,
rock-bound inlet. [Norw.]
FIORIN, f[=i]'o-rin, _n._ a species of creeping bent-grass.
FIORITE, f[=i]-[=o]'r[=i]t, _n._ a kind of siliceous incrustation found in
the vicinity of volcanoes and hot springs. [From Santa _Fiore_ in Tuscany.]
FIR, f[.e]r, _n._ the name of several species of cone-bearing, resinous
trees, valuable for their timber.--_adj._ FIR'RY, abounding in firs. [A.S.
_furh_ (_wudu_); cf. Ger. _föhre_.]
FIRE, f[=i]r, _n._ the heat and light caused by burning: flame: anything
burning, as fuel in a grate, &c.: a conflagration: torture or death by
burning: severe trial: anything inflaming or provoking: ardour of passion:
vigour: brightness of fancy: enthusiasm: sexual passion.--_v.t._ to set on
fire: to inflame: to irritate: to animate: to cause the explosion of: to
discharge.--_v.i._ to take fire: to be or become irritated or inflamed: to
discharge firearms.--_n._ FIRE'-ALARM', an alarm of fire, an apparatus for
giving such.--_n.pl._ FIRE'ARMS, arms or weapons which are discharged by
fire exploding gunpowder.--_ns._ FIRE'-AR'ROW, a small iron dart or arrow
furnished with a combustible for setting fire to ships; FIRE'BALL, a ball
filled with combustibles to be thrown among enemies: a meteor;
FIRE'-BALLOON', a balloon carrying a fire placed in the lower part for
rarefying the air to make itself buoyant: a balloon sent up arranged to
ignite at a certain height; FIRE'-BAS'KET, a portable grate for a bedroom;
FIRE'-BLAST, a blast or blight affecting plants, in which they appear as if
scorched by the sun; FIRE'-BOAT, a steamboat fitted up to extinguish fires
in docks; FIRE'BOX, the box or chamber (usually copper) of a steam-engine,
in which the fire is placed; FIRE'BRAND, a brand or piece of wood on fire:
one who inflames the passions of others; FIRE'BRICK, a brick so made as to
resist the action of fire, used for lining furnaces, &c.; FIRE'-BRIGADE', a
brigade or company of men for extinguishing fires or conflagrations;
FIRE'-BUCK'ET, a bucket for carrying water to extinguish a fire; FIRE'CLAY,
a kind of clay, capable of resisting fire, used in making firebricks;
FIRE'COCK, a cock or spout to let out water for extinguishing fires;
FIRE'DAMP, a gas, carburetted hydrogen, in coal-mines, apt to take fire and
explode when mixed with atmospheric air; FIRE'-DOG (same as ANDIRON);
FIRE'-DRAKE, a fiery meteor, a kind of firework; FIRE'-EAT'ER, a juggler
who pretends to eat fire: one given to needless quarrelling, a professed
duellist; FIRE'-EN'GINE, an engine or forcing-pump used to extinguish fires
with water; FIRE'-ESCAPE', a machine used to enable people to escape from
fires.--_adj._ FIRE'-EYED (_Shak._), having fiery eyes.--_ns._ FIRE'-FLAG
(_Coleridge_), FIRE'FLAUGHT (_Swinburne_), a flash of lightning; FIRE'-FLY,
a name applied to many phosphorescent insects, all included with the
_Coleoptera_ or beetles, some giving forth a steady light, others flashing
light intermittently (glow-worms, &c.); FIRE'-GUARD, a framework of wire
placed in front of a fireplace.--_n.pl._ FIRE'-[=I]'RONS, the irons--poker,
tongs, and shovel--used for a fire.--_ns._ FIRE'LIGHT'ER, a composition of
pitch and sawdust, or the like, for kindling fires; FIRE'LOCK, a gun in
which the fire is caused by a lock with steel and flint; FIRE'MAN, a man
whose business it is to assist in extinguishing fires: a man who tends the
fires, as of a steam-engine; FIRE'-MAS'TER, the chief of a
fire-brigade.--_adj._ FIRE'-NEW, new from the fire: brand new:
bright.--_ns._ FIRE'-PAN, a pan or metal vessel for holding fire;
FIRE'PLACE, the place in a house appropriated to the fire: a hearth;
FIRE'PLUG, a plug placed in a pipe which supplies water in case of fire;
FIRE'-POL'ICY, a written instrument of insurance against fire up to a
certain amount; FIRE'-POT, an earthen pot filled with combustibles, used in
military operations.--_adj._ FIRE'PROOF, proof against fire.--_ns._
FIRE'-PROOFING, the act of rendering anything fireproof: the materials
used; FIR'ER, an incendiary; FIRE'-RAIS'ING, the crime of arson.--_adj._
FIRE'-ROBED (_Shak._), robed in fire.--_ns._ FIRE'-SCREEN, a screen for
intercepting the heat of the fire; FIRE'-SHIP, a ship filled with
combustibles, to set an enemy's vessels on fire; FIRE'SIDE, the side of the
fireplace: the hearth: home.--_adj._ homely, intimate.--_ns._ FIRE'-STICK,
the implement used by many primitive peoples for obtaining fire by
friction; FIRE'STONE, a kind of sandstone that bears a high degree of heat;
FIRE'-WA'TER, ardent spirits; FIRE'WOOD, wood for burning.--_n.pl._
FIRE'WORKS, artificial works or preparations of gunpowder, sulphur, &c., to
be fired chiefly for display or amusement.--_ns._ FIRE'-WOR'SHIP, the
worship of fire, chiefly by the Parsees in Persia and India;
FIRE'-WOR'SHIPPER; FIR'ING, a putting fire to: discharge of guns: firewood:
fuel: cauterisation; FIR'ING-PAR'TY, a detachment told off to fire over the
grave of one buried with military honours, or to shoot one sentenced to
death; FIR'ING-POINT, the temperature at which an inflammable oil will take
fire spontaneously.--FIRE OFF, to discharge a shot; FIRE OUT (_Shak._), to
expel; FIRE UP, to start a fire: to fly into a passion.--SET THE THAMES ON
FIRE, to do something striking; TAKE FIRE, to begin to burn: to become
aroused about something. [A.S. _fýr_; Ger. _feuer_; Gr. _pyr_.]
FIRK, f[.e]rk, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to whip or beat: to rouse.
FIRKIN, f[.e]r'kin, _n._ a measure equal to the fourth part of a barrel: 9
gallons: 56 lb. of butter. [With dim. suff. _-kin_, from Old Dut. _vierde_,
fourth.]
FIRLOT, f[.e]r'lot, _n._ an old Scotch dry measure, the fourth part of a
boll.
FIRM, f[.e]rm, _adj._ fixed: compact: strong: not easily moved or
disturbed: unshaken: resolute: decided.--_v.t._ (_obs._) to fix, establish,
confirm.--_adj._ FIRM'LESS, wavering.--_adv._ FIRM'LY.--_n._ FIRM'NESS. [O.
Fr. _ferme_--L. _firmus_.]
FIRM, f[.e]rm, _n._ the title under which a company transacts business: a
business house or partnership. [It. _firma_, from L. _firmus_. See FARM.]
FIRMAMENT, f[.e]r'ma-ment, _n._ the solid sphere in which the stars were
thought to be fixed: the sky.--_adj._ FIRMAMENT'AL, pertaining to the
firmament: celestial. [Fr.,--L. _firmamentum_--_firmus_, firm.]
FIRMAN, f[.e]r'man, or fer-män', _n._ any decree emanating from the Turkish
government. [Pers. _fermán_; Sans. _pramâna_, command.]
FIRN, firn, or fern, _n._ snow on high glaciers while still granular--the
French _névé_. [Ger. _firn_, of last year; cf. obs. Eng. _fern_, former.]
FIRST, f[.e]rst, _adj._ foremost: preceding all others in place, time, or
degree: most eminent: chief.--_adv._ before anything else, in time, space,
rank, &c.--_adjs._ FIRST'-BEGOT'TEN, begotten or born first: eldest;
FIRST'-BORN, born first.--_n._ the first in the order of birth: the eldest
child.--_adj._ FIRST'-CLASS, of the first class, rank, or quality.--_ns._
FIRST'-DAY, Sunday; FIRST'-FLOOR (see FLOOR); FIRST'-FOOT (_Scot._), the
first person to enter a house after the beginning of the new year;
FIRST'-FRUIT, FIRST'-FRUITS, the fruits first gathered in a season: the
first profits or effects of anything, bishoprics, benefices, &c.--_adj._
FIRST'-HAND, obtained without the intervention of a second party.--_n._
FIRST'LING, the first produce or offspring, esp. of animals.--_adv._
FIRST'LY, in the first place.--_adjs._ FIRST'-RATE, of the first or highest
rate or excellence: pre-eminent in quality, size, or estimation;
FIRST'-WA'TER, the first or highest quality, purest lustre--of diamonds and
pearls. [A.S. _fyrst_; the superl. of _fore_ by adding _-st_.]
FIRTH, f[.e]rth. Same as FRITH.
FISC, fisk, _n._ the state treasury: the public revenue: one's
purse.--_adj._ FISC'AL, pertaining to the public treasury or revenue.--_n._
a treasurer: a public prosecutor, the chief law officer of the crown under
the Holy Roman Empire: (_Scot._) an officer who prosecutes in petty
criminal cases--fully, _Procurator-fiscal_. [O. Fr.,--L. _fiscus_, a
purse.]
FISGIG. See FIZGIG.
[Illustration]
FISH, fish, _n._ a vertebrate that lives in water, and breathes through
gills: the flesh of fish: a piece of wood fixed alongside another for
strengthening:--_pl._ FISH, or FISH'ES.--_v.t._ to search for fish: to
search by sweeping: to draw out or up: (_naut._) to strengthen, as a weak
spar: to hoist the flukes of: to seek to obtain by artifice.--_ns._
FISH'-BALL, -CAKE, a ball of chopped fish and mashed potatoes,
fried.--_adj._ FISH'-BELL'IED, swelled out downward like the belly of a
fish.--_ns._ FISH'-CARV'ER, a large flat implement for carving fish at
table--also _Fish'-knife_, _Fish'-slice_, and _Fish'-trow'el_; FISH'-COOP,
a square box with a hole in its bottom, used in fishing through a hole in
the ice; FISH'-CREEL, an angler's basket, a wicker-basket used for carrying
fish; FISH'-DAY, a day on which fish is eaten instead of meat; FISH'ER, one
who fishes, or whose occupation is to catch fish: a North American
carnivore--a kind of marten or sable, the pekan or wood-shock; FISH'ERMAN,
a fisher; FISH'ERY, the business of catching fish: a place for catching
fish; FISH'-FAG, a woman who sells fish; FISH'-GARTH, an enclosure on a
river for the preserving or taking of fish--also FISH'-WEIR; FISH'-GOD, a
deity in form wholly or partly like a fish, like the Philistine Dagon;
FISH'-HOOK, a barbed hook for catching fish.--_v.t._ FISH'IFY (_Shak._), to
turn to fish.--_n._ FISH'INESS.--_adj._ FISH'ING, used in fishery.--_n._
the art or practice of catching fish.--_ns._ FISH'ING-FROG, the
angler-fish; FISH'ING-ROD, a long slender rod to which a line is fastened
for angling; FISH'ING-TACK'LE, tackle--nets, lines, &c.--used in fishing;
FISH'-JOINT, a joint or splice made with fish-plates; FISH'-KETT'LE, a long
oval dish for boiling fish; FISH'-LADD'ER, FISH'-WAY, an arrangement for
enabling a fish to ascend a fall, &c.; FISH'-LOUSE, a name widely applied
to any of the Copepod crustaceans which occur as external parasites, both
on fresh-water and marine fishes; FISH'-MEAL (_Shak._), a meal of fish:
abstemious diet; FISH'MONGER, a dealer in fish; FISH'-PACK'ING, the process
of packing or canning fish for the market; FISH'-PLATE, an iron plate
fitted to the web of a rail, used in pairs, one on each side of the
junction of two rails; FISH'-POND, a pond in which fish are kept;
FISH'-SALES'MAN, one who receives consignments of fish for sale by auction
to retail dealers; FISH'-SAUCE, sauce proper to be eaten with fish, as
anchovy, &c.; FISH'-SCRAP, fish or fish-skins from which oil or glue has
been extracted; FISH'-SPEAR, a spear or dart for striking fish;
FISH'-STRAIN'ER, a metal colander for taking fish from a boiler.--_adj._
FISH'-TAIL, shaped like the tail of a fish.--_ns._ FISH'-TORP[=E]'DO, a
self-propelling torpedo; FISH'-WIFE, FISH'-WOM'AN, a woman who sells fish
about the streets.--_adj._ FISH'Y, consisting of fish: like a fish:
abounding in fish: dubious, as a story: equivocal, unsafe.--_ns._
BAIT'-FISH, such fish as are used for bait, fish that may be caught with
bait; BOTT'OM-FISH, those that feed on the bottom, as halibut, &c.--FISH
FOR, to seek to gain by cunning or indirect means; FISHERMAN'S LUCK,
getting wet and catching no fish; FISHERMAN'S RING, a signet-ring with the
device of St Peter fishing, used in signing papal briefs.--A QUEER FISH, a
person of odd habits; BE NEITHER FISH NOR FLESH, or NEITHER FISH, FLESH,
NOR FOWL, to be neither one thing nor another, in principle, &c.; HAVE
OTHER FISH TO FRY, to have something else to do, or to take up one's mind;
MAKE FISH OF ONE AND FLESH (or FOWL) OF ANOTHER, to make invidious
distinctions, show undue partiality. [A.S. _fisc_; Ger. _fisch_; Ice.
_fiskr_; L. _piscis_; Gr. _ichthys_; Gael. _iasg_.]
FISKERY, fisk'er-i, _n._ (_Carlyle_) friskiness.--_v.i._ FISK (_obs._), to
jump about. [Prob. a freq. of A.S. _fýsan_, to hurry, or of _fésian_, to
feeze; Sw. _fjäska_, to fidget.]
FISSILE, fis'il, _adj._ that may be cleft or split in the direction of the
grain.--_adjs._ FISSICOS'TATE, having the ribs divided; FISSILING'UAL,
having the tongue cleft.--_ns._ FISSIL'ITY, cleavableness; FIS'SION, a
cleaving or breaking up into two parts.--_adj._ FISS'IVE. [L. _fissilis_,
from _find[)e]re_, _fissum_, to cleave.]
FISSIPAROUS, fis-sip'a-rus, _adj._ propagated by spontaneous fission or
self-division.--_ns._ FISSIP'ARISM, FISSIPA'RITY.--_adv._ FISSIP'AROUSLY.
[L. _fissus_, pa.p. of _find[)e]re_, to cleave, _par[)e]re_, to bring
forth.]