The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 626
2. (Zo\'94l.) The friar bird; -- so called from its cry, which resembles these words.
Fourpence <Xpage=590>
Four"pence (?) , n. 1. A British silver coin, worth four pence; a groat.
2. A name formerly given in New England to the Spanish half real, a silver coin worth six and a quarter cents.
Four-poster <Xpage=590>
Four"-post`er (?) , n. A large bedstead with tall posts at the corners to support curtains. [Colloq.]
Fourrier <Xpage=590>
Four"rier (?; F. <?/) , n. [F., fr. OF. forre . See Forage , n. ] A harbinger. [Obs.]
Fourscore <Xpage=590>
Four"score` (?) , a. [ Four + core , n. ] Four times twenty; eighty.
Fourscore <Xpage=590>
Four"score` , n. The product of four times twenty; eighty units or objects.
Foursquare <Xpage=590>
Four"square` (?) , a. Having four sides and four equal angles.
Sir W. Raleigh.
Fourteen <Xpage=590>
Four"teen` (?) , a. [OE. fourtene , feowertene , AS. fe\'a2wert<?/ne , fe\'a2wert<?/ne . See Four , and Ten , and cf. Forty .] Four and ten more; twice seven.
Fourteen <Xpage=590>
Four"teen` , n. 1. The sum of ten and four; forteen units or objects.
2. A symbol representing fourteen, as 14 or xiv.
Fourteenth <Xpage=590>
Four"teenth` (?) , a. [Cf. OE. fourtende , fourtethe , AS. fe\'a2werteo&edh;a .] 1. Next in order after the thirteenth; as, the fourteenth day of the month .
2. Making or constituting one of fourteen equal parts into which anything may be derived.
Fourteenth <Xpage=590>
Four"teenth` , n. 1. One of fourteen equal parts into which one whole may be divided; the quotient of a unit divided by fourteen; one next after the thirteenth.
2. (Mus.) The octave of the seventh.
Fourth <Xpage=590>
Fourth (?) , a. [OE. fourthe , ferthe , feorthe , AS. fe\'a2r&edh;a , fr. fe\'a2wer four.] 1. Next in order after the third; the ordinal of four.
2. Forming one of four equal parts into which anything may be divided.
Fourth <Xpage=590>
Fourth , n. 1. One of four equal parts into which one whole may be divided; the quotient of a unit divided by four; one coming next in order after the third.
2. (Mus.) The interval of two tones and a semitone, embracing four diatonic degrees of the scale; the subdominant of any key.
The Fourth , specifically, un the United States, the fourth day of July, the anniversary of the declaration of American independence; as, to celebrate the Fourth .
Fourthly <Xpage=590>
Fourth"ly , adv. In the fourth place.
Four-way <Xpage=590>
Four"-way` (?) , a. Allowing passage in either of four directions; as, a four-way cock, or valve .
Francis.
Four-way cock , a cock connected with four pipes or ports, and having two or more passages in the plug, by which the adjacent pipes or ports may be made to communicate; formerly used as a valve in the steam engine, and now for various other purposes. In the illustration, a leads to the upper end of a steam engine cylinder, and b to the lower end; c is the steam pipe, and d the exhaust pipe.
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Four-wheeled <Xpage=591>
Four"-wheeled` (?) , a. Having four wheels.
Four-wheeler <Xpage=591>
Four"-wheel`er (?) , n. A vehicle having four wheels. [Colloq.]
Foussa <Xpage=591>
Fous"sa (?) , n. [Natibe name.] (Zo\'94l.) A viverrine animal of Madagascar ( Cryptoprocta ferox ). It resembles a cat in size and form, and has retractile claws.
Fouter <Xpage=591>
Fou"ter (?) , n. [F. foutre to lecher, L. futuere . Cf. Fouty .] A despicable fellow. [Prov. Eng.]
Brockett.
Foutra <Xpage=591>
Fou"tra (?) , n. [See Fouter .] A fig; -- a word of contempt. [Obs.]
A foutra for the world and wordlings base! Shak.
Fouty <Xpage=591>
Fou"ty (?) , a. [Cf. F. foutu , p.p. of foutre ; OF. foutu scoundrel. See Fouter .] Despicable. [Obs.]
Fovea <Xpage=591>
Fo"ve*a (?) , n. ; pl. Fove\'91 (#) . [L., a small pit.] A slight depression or pit; a fossa.
Foveate <Xpage=591>
Fo"ve*ate (?) , a. [L. fovea a pit.] Having pits or depressions; pitted.
Foveola <Xpage=591>
Fo*ve"o*la (?) , n. ; pl. Foveol\'91 (#) . [NL., dim. of L. fovea .] A small depression or pit; a fovea.
Foveolate <Xpage=591>
Fo"ve*o*late (? ∨ ?) , a. Having small pits or depression, as the receptacle in some composite flowers.
Foveolated <Xpage=591>
Fo"ve*o*la`ted (?) , a. Foveolate.
Fovilla <Xpage=591>
Fo*vil"la (?) , n. ; pl. Fovill\'91 (#) . [Dim. fr. L. fovere to cherish .] (Bot.) One of the fine granules contained in the protoplasm of a pollen grain.
Fowl <Xpage=591>
Fowl (?) , n. Instead of the pl. Fowls the singular is often used collectively . [OE. foul , fowel , foghel , fuhel , fugel , AS. fugol ; akin to OS. fugal D. & G. vogel , OHG. fogal , Icel. & Dan. fugl , Sw. fogel , f\'86gel , Goth. fugls ; of unknown origin, possibly by loss of l , from the root of E. fly , or akin to E. fox , as being a tailed animal.] 1. Any bird; esp., any large edible bird.
Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air. Gen. i. 26.
Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not. Matt. vi. 26.
Like a flight of fowl Scattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts. Shak.
2. Any domesticated bird used as food, as a hen, turkey, duck; in a more restricted sense, the common domestic cock or hen ( Gallus domesticus ).
Barndoor fowl , ∨ Barnyard fowl , a fowl that frequents the barnyard; the common domestic cock or hen.
Fowl <Xpage=591>
Fowl , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fowled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fowling .] To catch or kill wild fowl, for game or food, as by shooting, or by decoys, nets, etc.
Such persons as may lawfully hunt, fish, or fowl . Blackstone.
Fowling piece , a light gun with smooth bore, adapted for the use of small shot in killing birds or small quadrupeds.
Fowler <Xpage=591>
Fowl"er (?) , n. A sportsman who pursues wild fowl, or takes or kills for food.
Fowlerite <Xpage=591>
Fow"ler*ite (?) , n. [From Dr. Samuel Fowler .] (Min.) A variety of rhodonite, from Franklin Furnace, New Jersey, containing some zinc.
Fowler's solution <Xpage=591>
Fow"ler's so*lu"tion (?) . An <?/quenous solution of arsenite of potassium, of such strength that one hundred parts represent one part of arsenious acid, or white arsenic; -- named from Fowler , an English physician who first brought it into use.
Fox <Xpage=591>
Fox (?) , n. ; pl. Foxes (#) . [AS. fox ; akin to D. vos , G. fuchs , OHG. fuhs , foha , Goth. fa\'a3h<?/ , Icel. f<?/a fox, fox fraud; of unknown origin, cf. Skr. puccha tail. Cf. Vixen .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) A carnivorous animal of the genus Vulpes , family Canid\'91 , of many species. The European fox ( V. vulgaris or V. vulpes ), the American red fox ( V. fulvus ), the American gray fox ( V. Virginianus ), and the arctic, white, or blue, fox ( V. lagopus ) are well-known species.
&hand; The black or silver-gray fox is a variety of the American red fox, producing a fur of great value; the cross-gray and woods-gray foxes are other varieties of the same species, of less value. The common foxes of Europe and America are very similar; both are celebrated for their craftiness. They feed on wild birds, poultry, and various small animals.
Subtle as the fox for prey. Shak.
2. (Zo\'94l.) The European dragonet.
3. (Zo\'94l.) The fox shark or thrasher shark; -- called also sea fox . See Thrasher shark , under Shark .
4. A sly, cunning fellow. [Colloq.]
We call a crafty and cruel man a fox . Beattie.
5. (Naut.) Rope yarn twisted together, and rubbed with tar; -- used for seizings or mats.
6. A sword; -- so called from the stamp of a fox on the blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox. [Obs.]
Thou diest on point of fox . Shak.
7. pl. (Enthnol.) A tribe of Indians which, with the Sacs, formerly occupied the region about Green Bay, Wisconsin; -- called also Outagamies .
Fox and geese . (a) A boy's game, in which one boy tries to catch others as they run one goal to another. (b) A game with sixteen checkers, or some substitute for them, one of which is called the fox , and the rest the geese ; the fox , whose first position is in the middle of the board, endeavors to break through the line of the geese, and the geese to pen up the fox. -- Fox bat (Zo\'94l.) , a large fruit bat of the genus Pteropus , of many species, inhabiting Asia, Africa, and the East Indies, esp. P. medius of India. Some of the species are more than four feet across the outspread wings. See Fruit bat . -- Fox bolt , a bolt having a split end to receive a fox wedge. -- Fox brush (Zo\'94l.) , the tail of a fox. -- Fox evil , a disease in which the hair falls off; alopecy. -- Fox grape (Bot.) , the name of two species of American grapes. The northern fox grape ( Vitis Labrusca ) is the origin of the varieties called Isabella , Concord , Hartford , etc., and the southern fox grape ( Vitis vulpina ) has produced the Scuppernong , and probably the Catawba . -- Fox hunter . (a) One who pursues foxes with hounds. (b) A horse ridden in a fox chase. -- Fox shark (Zo\'94l.) , the thrasher shark. See Thrasher shark , under Thrasher . -- Fox sleep , pretended sleep. -- Fox sparrow (Zo\'94l.) , a large American sparrow ( Passerella iliaca ); -- so called on account of its reddish color. -- Fox squirrel (Zo\'94l.) , a large North American squirrel ( Sciurus niger , or S. cinereus ). In the Southern States the black variety prevails; farther north the fulvous and gray variety, called the cat squirrel , is more common. -- Fox terrier (Zo\'94l.) , one of a peculiar breed of terriers, used in hunting to drive foxes from their holes, and for other purposes. There are rough- and smooth-haired varieties. -- Fox trot , a pace like that which is adopted for a few steps, by a horse, when passing from a walk into a trot, or a trot into a walk. -- Fox wedge (Mach. & Carpentry) , a wedge for expanding the split end of a bolt, cotter, dowel, tenon, or other piece, to fasten the end in a hole or mortise and prevent withdrawal. The wedge abuts on the bottom of the hole and the piece is driven down upon it. Fastening by fox wedges is called foxtail wedging . -- Fox wolf (Zo\'94l.) , one of several South American wild dogs, belonging to the genus Canis . They have long, bushy tails like a fox.
Fox <Xpage=591>
Fox (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Foxed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Foxing .] [See Fox , n. , cf. Icel. fox imposture.] 1. To intoxicate; to stupefy with drink.
I drank . . . so much wine that I was almost foxed . Pepys.
2. To make sour, as beer, by causing it to ferment.
3. To repair the feet of, as of boots, with new front upper leather, or to piece the upper fronts of.
Fox <Xpage=591>
Fox , v. i. To turn sour; -- said of beer, etc., when it sours in fermenting.
Foxearth <Xpage=591>
Fox"earth` (?) , n. A hole in the earth to which a fox resorts to hide himself.
Fracas <Xpage=591>
Fra"cas (?; F. <?/; 277) , n. [F., crash, din, tumult, It. fracasso , fr. fracassare to break in pieces, perh. fr. fra within, among (L. infra ) + cassare to annul, cashier. Cf. Cashier , v. t. ] An uproar; a noisy quarrel; a disturbance; a brawl.
Fracho <Xpage=591>
Fracho (?) , n. A shallow iron pan to hold glass ware while being annealed.
Fracid <Xpage=591>
Frac"id (?) , a. [L. fracidus mellow, soft.] Rotten from being too ripe; overripe. [Obs.]
Blount.
Fract <Xpage=591>
Fract (?) , v. t. [L. fractus , p.p. of frangere to break.] To break; to violate. [Obs.]
Shak.
Fracted <Xpage=591>
Frac"ted , a. (Her.) Having a part displaced, as if broken; -- said of an ordinary.
Macaulay.
Foxed <Xpage=591>
Foxed (?) , a. 1. Discolored or stained; -- said of timber, and also of the paper of books or engravings.
2. Repaired by foxing; as, foxed boots .
Foxery <Xpage=591>
Fox"e*ry (?) , n. Behavior like that of a fox; <?/unning. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Foxes <Xpage=591>
Fox"es (?) , n. pl. (Ethnol.) See Fox , n. , 7.
Foxfish <Xpage=591>
Fox"fish` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The fox shark; -- called also sea fox . See Thrasher shark , under Shark . (b) The european dragonet. See Dragonet .
Foxglove <Xpage=591>
Fox"glove` (?) , n. [ AS . foxes-gl<?/fa , foxes-clife .] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Digitalis . The common English foxglove ( Digitalis purpurea ) is a handsome perennial or biennial plant, whose leaves are used as a powerful medicine, both as a sedative and diuretic. See Digitalis .
Pan through the pastures oftentimes hath run To pluck the speckled foxgloves from their stem. W. Browne.
Foxhound <Xpage=591>
Fox"hound` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) One of a special breed of hounds used for chasing foxes.
Fox-hunting <Xpage=591>
Fox"-hunt`ing (?) , a. Pertaining to or engaged in the hunting of foxes; fond of hunting foxes.
Foxineess <Xpage=591>
Fox"i*neess (?) , n. 1. The state or quality of being foxy, or foxlike; craftiness; shrewdness.
2. The state of being foxed or discolored, as books; decay; deterioration.
3. A coarse and sour taste in grapes.
Foxish <Xpage=591>
Fox"ish , a. Foxlike. [Obs.]
Foxlike <Xpage=591>
Fox"like` (?) , a. Resembling a fox in his characteristic qualities; cunning; artful; foxy.
Foxly <Xpage=591>
Fox"ly , a. Foxlike. [Obs.] " Foxly craft."
Latimer.
Foxship <Xpage=591>
Fox"ship , n. Foxiness; craftiness. [R.]
Shak.
Foxtail <Xpage=591>
Fox"tail` (?) , n. 1. The tail or brush of a fox.
2. (Bot.) The name of several kinds of grass having a soft dense head of flowers, mostly the species of Alopecurus and Setaria .
3. (Metal.) The last cinders obtained in the fining process.
Raymond.
Foxtail saw , a dovetail saw. -- Foxtail wedging . See Fox wedge , under Fox .
Foxy <Xpage=591>
Fox"y (?) , a. 1. Like or pertaining to the fox; foxlike in disposition or looks; wily.
Modred's narrow, foxy face. Tennyson.
2. Having the color of a fox; of a yellowish or reddish brown color; -- applied sometimes to paintings when they have too much of this color.
3. Having the odor of a fox; rank; strong smeelling.
4. Sour; unpleasant in taste; -- said of wine, beer, etc., not properly fermented; -- also of grapes which have the coarse flavor of the fox grape.
Foy <Xpage=591>
Foy (?) , n. [F. foi , old spelling foy , faith. See Faith .] 1. Faith; allegiance; fealty. [Obs.]
Spenser.
2. A feast given by one about to leave a place. [Obs.]
He did at the Dog give me, and some other friends of his, his foy , he being to set sail to-day. Pepys.
Foyer <Xpage=591>
Foy`er" (?) , n. [F., fr. LL. focarium fireplace. See Focus , n. ] 1. A lobby in a theater; a greenroom.
2. The crucible or basin in a furnace which receives the molten metal.
Knight.
Foyson <Xpage=591>
Foy"son (?) , n. [Obs.] See Foison .
Foziness <Xpage=591>
Fo"zi*ness (?) , n. The state of being fozy; spiritlessness; dullness. [Scot.]
[The Whigs'] foziness can no longer be concealed. Blackwood's.
Fozy <Xpage=591>
Fo"zy (?) , a. Spongy; soft; fat and puffy. [Scot.]
Fra <Xpage=591>
Fra (?) , adv. & prep. [OE.] Fro. [Old Eng. & Scot.]
Fra <Xpage=591>
Fra (?) , n. [It., for frate . See Friar .] Brother; -- a title of a monk of friar; as, Fra Angelo .
Longfellow.
Frab <Xpage=591>
Frab (?) , v. i. & t. To scold; to nag. [Prov. Eng.]
Frabbit <Xpage=591>
Frab"bit (?) , a. Crabbed; peevish. [Prov. Eng.]
Fraction <Xpage=591>
Frac"tion (?) , n. [F. fraction , L. fractio a breaking, fr. frangere , fractum , to break. See Break .] 1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence. [Obs.]
Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking up. Foxe.
2. A portion; a fragment.
Some niggard fractions of an hour. Tennyson.
3. (Arith. or Alg.) One or more aliquot parts of a unit or whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a unit or magnitude.