FISSIROSTRAL, fis-i-ros'tral, _adj._ having a deeply cleft or gaping beak,
as swallows, &c. [L. _fissus_, cleft, _rostrum_, a beak.]
FISSLE, fis'l, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to rustle: to whistle.
FISSURE, fish'[=u]r, _n._ a narrow opening or chasm: a cleft, slit, or
furrow: any groove or sulcus, esp. one of the furrows on the surface of the
brain, as the longitudinal fissure separating the hemispheres.--_adj._
FISS'[=U]RED, cleft, divided. [Fr.,--L. _fiss[=u]ra_, from _find[)e]re_,
_fissum_, to cleave.]
FIST, fist, _n._ the closed or clenched hand.--_v.t._ to strike or grip
with the fist.--_n._ FISTI[=A]'NA, anecdotes about boxing and
boxers.--_adj._ FIST'IC (_Dickens_), pugilistic.--_ns._ FIST'ICUFF, a blow
with the fist: (_pl._) boxing, blows; FIST'-LAW, the law of brute
force.--_adj._ FIST'Y. [A.S. _fýst_; Ger. _faust_.]
FISTULA, fist'[=u]-la, _n._ a narrow passage or duct: the tube through
which the wine of the eucharist was once sucked from the chalice--also
_Calamus_.--_adjs._ FIST'ULAR, hollow like a pipe; FIST'ULATE, -D, hollowed
like a fistula.--_v.i._ FIST'ULATE, to assume such a form.--_adjs._
FIST'ULIFORM; FIST'ULOSE, FIST'ULOUS, of the form of a fistula. [L.
_fistula_, a pipe.]
FIT, fit, _adj._ adapted to any particular end or standard, prepared for:
qualified: convenient: proper: properly trained and ready, as for a
race.--_v.t._ to make fit or suitable: to suit one thing to another: to be
adapted to: to qualify.--_v.i._ to be suitable or becoming:--_pr.p._
fit'ting; _pa.p._ fit'ted.--_advs._ FIT'LIEST (_Milt._), most fitly;
FIT'LY.--_ns._ FIT'MENT (_Shak._), something fitted to an end; FIT'NESS;
FIT'TER, he who, or that which, makes fit.--_adj._ FIT'TING, fit:
appropriate.--_n._ anything used in fitting up, esp. in _pl._--_adv._
FIT'TINGLY.--_ns._ FIT'TING-OUT, a supply of things, fit and necessary;
FIT'TING-SHOP, a shop in which pieces of machinery are fitted
together.--FIT OUT, to furnish, supply with stores, as a ship; FIT UP, to
provide with things suitable.--NOT FIT TO HOLD A CANDLE TO (see CANDLE).
[First recorded about 1440; app. cog. with FIT, _n._]
FIT, fit, _n._ a sudden attack by convulsions, as apoplexy, epilepsy, &c.:
convulsion or paroxysm: a temporary attack of anything, as laughter, &c.: a
sudden effort or motion: a passing humour.--_v.t._ (_Shak._) to wrench, as
by a fit.--_adj._ FIT'FUL, marked by sudden impulses: spasmodic.--_adv._
FIT'FULLY.--_n._ FIT'FULNESS.--FIT OF THE FACE, a grimace; FITS AND STARTS,
spasmodic and irregular bursts of activity; BY FITS, irregularly. [A.S.
_fitt_, a struggle--prob. orig. 'juncture,' 'meeting;' cf. Ice. _fitja_, to
knit, Dut. _vitten_, to accommodate.]
FIT, fit, _n._ a song, or part of a song or ballad.--Also FITT, FITTE,
FYTTE. [A.S. _fitt_, a song.]
FITCH, fich, _n._ now _vetch_: (_B._) Isa. xxviii. 25, black cummin
(_Nigella sativa_): in Ezek. iv. 9, a kind of bearded wheat, spelt. [See
VETCH.]
FITCHÉ, FITCHÉE, fich'[=a], _adj._ (_her._) cut to a point. [Fr. _ficher_,
to fix.]
FITCHEW, fich'[=oo], _n._ a polecat.--Also FITCH'ET. [O. Fr. _fissel_, from
root of Dut. _visse_, nasty.]
FITZ, fits, _n._ (a prefix) son of: used in England, esp. of the
illegitimate sons of kings and princes, as _Fitzclarence_, &c. [Norman Fr.
_fiz_ (Fr. _fils_)--L. _filius_.]
FIVE, f[=i]v, _adj._ and _n._ four and one.--_n._ FIVE'-FING'ER, a name for
various plants (cinque-foil, oxlip, &c.): a species of starfish.--_adj._
FIVE'FOLD, five times folded, or repeated in fives.--_ns._ FIV'ER
(_coll._), a five-pound note; FIVE'-SQUARE (_B._), having five corners or
angles.--FIVE ARTICLES, FIVE POINTS, statements of the distinctive
doctrines of the Arminians and Calvinists respectively--the former
promulgated in 1610, the latter sustained by the Synod of Dort in 1619 (see
CALVINISM).--BUNCH OF FIVES, the fist. [A.S. _fíf_; Ger. _fünf_; Goth.
_fimf_; W. _pump_; L. _quinque_; Gr. _pente_, _pempe_; Sans. _pancha_.]
FIVES, f[=i]vz, _n._ (_Shak._) vives, a disease of horses.
FIVES, f[=i]vz, _n.pl._ a game of handball played in a roomy court against
a wall, chiefly at the great public schools of England.
FIX, fiks, _v.t._ to make firm or fast: to establish: to drive into: to
settle: to put into permanent form: to establish as a fact: to direct
steadily: to regulate: to deprive of volatility.--_v.i._ to settle or
remain permanently: to become firm: to congeal.--_n._ (_coll._) a
difficulty: a dilemma.--_adj._ FIX'ABLE, capable of being fixed.--_ns._
FIX[=A]'TION, act of fixing, or state of being fixed: steadiness, firmness:
state in which a body does not evaporate; FIX'ATIVE, that which fixes or
sets colours; FIX'ATURE, a gummy preparation for fixing the hair.--_adj._
FIXED, settled: not apt to evaporate: steadily directed towards: fast,
lasting, permanent: substantively for fixed stars (_Par. Lost_, III.
481).--_adv._ FIX'EDLY.--_ns._ FIX'EDNESS; FIX'ER; FIXID'ITY, FIX'ITY,
fixedness.--_n.pl._ FIX'INGS, things needed for putting in order,
arrangement.--_adj._ FIX'IVE.--_ns._ FIX'TURE, a movable that has become
fastened to anything, as to land or to a house: a fixed article of
furniture: a fixed or appointed time or event, as a horse-race; FIX'URE
(_Shak._), stability, position, firmness.--FIXED AIR, the name given by Dr
Joseph Black in 1756 to what in 1784 was named by Lavoisier carbonic acid;
FIXED BODIES (_chem._), a term applied to those substances which remain
fixed, and are not volatilised at moderately high temperatures; FIXED OILS,
those which, on the application of heat, do not volatilise without
decomposition; FIXED STARS, stars which appear always to occupy the same
position in the heavens--opp. to _Planets_. [L., _fixus_, _fig[)e]re_, to
fix, prob. through O. Fr. _fix_, or Low L. _fix[=a]re_.]
FIZGIG, fiz'gig, _n._ a giddy girl: a firework of damp powder: a gimcrack:
a crotchet.--Also FIS'GIG.
FIZZ, fiz, _v.i._ to make a hissing or sputtering sound.--_n._ any frothy
drink, as soda-water, or esp. champagne.--_adj._ FIZ'ZENLESS (_Scot._),
pithless--also F[=U]'SIONLESS.--_v.i._ FIZ'ZLE, to hiss or sputter: to come
to a sudden stop, to fail disgracefully.--_n._ a state of agitation or
worry: an abortive effort.--_adj._ FIZ'ZY, given to fizz. [Formed from the
sound.]
FLABBERGAST, flab'[.e]rgast, _v.t._ (_coll._) to stun, confound. [Prob.
conn. with _flabby_, and _gast_, to astonish.]
FLABBY, flab'i, _adj._ easily moved: soft, yielding: hanging loose.--_n._
FLABB'INESS. [From _flap_.]
FLABELLATE, flä-bel'[=a]t, _adj._ fan-shaped--also FLABELL'IFORM.--_ns._
FLABELL[=A]'TION, the action of fanning; FLAB'ELLUM (_eccles._), a fan,
anciently used to drive away flies from the chalice during the celebration
of the eucharist. [L., a fan.]
FLACCID, flak'sid, _adj._ flabby: lax: easily yielding to pressure: soft
and weak.--_adv._ FLAC'CIDLY.--_ns._ FLAC'CIDNESS, FLACCID'ITY, want of
firmness. [Fr.,--L. _flaccidus_--_flaccus_, flabby.]
FLACK, flak, _v.i._ (_prov._), to flap, flutter.--_v.t._ to flap or flick
with something.
FLACKER, flak'[.e]r, _v.i._ (_prov._) to flap, flutter.
FLACKET, flak'et, _n._ a flask, bottle.