Part 18

FLIT, flit, _v.i._ to flutter on the wing: to fly quickly: to be unsteady or easily moved: (_Scot._) to remove from place to place:--_pr.p._ flit'ting; _pa.p._ flit'ted.--_n._ FLIT'TING, a removal from one house to another: a wandering. [Ice. _flytja_; Sw. _flytta_.]

FLITCH, flich, _n._ the side of a hog salted and cured. [A.S. _flicce_; Ice. _flikki_.]

FLITTER, flit'[.e]r, _v.i._ to flutter.--_n._ FLITT'ER-MOUSE, a bat.

FLITTERN, flit'ern, _n._ (_prov._) a young oak.

FLITTERS, flit'ers, _n.pl._ fragments, tatters.

FLIX, fliks, _n._ fur, beaver-down.

FLOAT, fl[=o]t, _v.i._ to swim on a liquid: to be buoyed up: to move lightly and irregularly: to circulate, as a rumour: to drift about aimlessly.--_v.t._ to cause to swim: to cover with water: to set agoing.--_n._ anything swimming on water: a raft: the cork or quill on a fishing-line: a plasterer's trowel.--_adj._ FLOAT'ABLE.--_ns._ FLOAT'AGE, FLOT'AGE, the floating capacity of a thing: anything that floats; FLOAT'-BOARD, a board on the rim of an undershot water-wheel on which the water acts and moves the wheel; FLOAT'ER.--_adj._ FLOAT'ING, swimming: not fixed: circulating.--_n._ action of the verb _float_: the spreading of plaster on the surface of walls.--_ns._ FLOAT'ING-BATT'ERY, a vessel or hulk heavily armed, used in the defence of harbours or in attacks on marine fortresses; FLOAT'ING-BRIDGE, a bridge of rafts or beams of timber lying on the surface of the water; FLOAT'ING-DOCK (see DOCK); FLOAT'ING-IS'LAND, an aggregation of driftwood, roots, &c., capable of bearing soil, floated out from a river delta or the like; FLOAT'ING-LIGHT, a ship, bearing a light, moored on sunken rocks, to warn seamen of danger.--_adv._ FLOAT'INGLY.--_n._ FLOAT'-STONE, a porous, sponge-like variety of quartz, so light as to float for a while on water.--_adj._ FLOAT'Y. [A.S. _flotian_, to float; Ice. _flota_.]

FLOCK, flok, _n._ a company of animals, as sheep, birds, &c.: a company generally: a Christian congregation.--_v.i._ to gather in flocks or in crowds.--_n._ FLOCK'-MAS'TER, an owner or overseer of a flock. [A.S. _flocc_, a flock, a company; Ice. _flokkr_.]

FLOCK, flok, _n._ a lock of wool.--_n._ FLOCCILL[=A]'TION, a delirious picking of the bed-clothes by a patient.--_adjs._ FLOC'COSE, woolly; FLOC'C[=U]LAR; FLOC'C[=U]LATE.--_n._ FLOC'C[=U]LENCE.--_adj._ FLOC'C[=U]LENT, woolly, flaky.--_ns._ FLOC'C[=U]LUS, a small flock or tuft: a small lobe of the inferior surface of the cerebellum; FLOC'CUS, a flock or tuft of wool or wool-like hairs: the downy plumage of unfledged birds:--_pl._ FLOCCI (flok'si); FLOCK'-BED, a bed stuffed with flock or refuse wool; FLOCK'-P[=A]'PER, wall-paper covered with a rough surface formed of flock.--_adj._ FLOCK'Y. [O. Fr. _floc_--L. _floccus_, a lock of wool.]

FLOE, fl[=o], _n._ a field of floating ice. [Prob. Norse _flo_, layer. The usual Danish word is _flage_.]

FLOG, flog, _v.t._ to beat or strike: to lash: to chastise with blows:--_pr.p._ flog'ging; _pa.p._ flogged.--_n._ FLOG'GING. [Late; prob. an abbrev. of _flagellate_.]

FLOOD, flud, _n._ a great flow of water: (_B._) a river: an inundation: a deluge: the rise or flow of the tide: any great quantity.--_v.t._ to overflow: to inundate: to bleed profusely, as after parturition:--_pr.p._ flood'ing; _pa.p._ flood'ed.--_ns._ FLOOD'-GATE, a gate for letting water flow through, or to prevent it: an opening or passage: an obstruction; FLOOD'ING, an extraordinary flow of blood from the uterus; FLOOD'MARK, the mark or line to which the tide rises; FLOOD'-TIDE, the rising or inflowing tide.--THE FLOOD, the deluge in the days of Noah. [A.S. _fl['o]d_; Dut. _vloed_, Ger. _fluth_. Cog. with _flow_.]

FLOOR, fl[=o]r, _n._ the part of a room on which we stand: a platform: the rooms in a house on the same level, a story: any levelled area.--_v.t._ to furnish with a floor: (_coll._) to vanquish, stump.--_ns._ FLOOR'CLOTH, a covering for floors made of canvas oil-painted on both sides; FLOOR'ER, a knock-down blow; a decisive retort, &c.: an examination question one cannot answer; FLOOR'ING, material for floors: a platform.--_n.pl._ FLOOR'-TIM'BERS, the timbers placed immediately across a ship's keel, on which her bottom is framed.--_ns._ FIRST'-FLOOR, the floor in a house above the ground-floor--in United States mostly identical with GROUND-FLOOR, the floor of a house on a level with the ground. [A.S. _fl['o]r_; Dut. _vloer_, a flat surface, Ger. _flur_, flat land; W. _llawr_.]

FLOP, flop, _v.t._ to cause to hang down.--_v.i._ to plump down suddenly: to break down.--_n._ a fall plump on the ground.--_adv._ FLOP'PILY.--_n._ FLOP'PINESS.--_adj._ FLOP'PY. [A form of _flap_.]

FLORA, fl[=o]'ra, _n._ the collective plants or vegetable species of a region, country, or district: a work containing a descriptive enumeration of these.--_adj._ FL[=O]'RAL, pertaining to Flora or to flowers: (_bot._) containing the flower.--_adv._ FL[=O]'RALLY.--_n._ FLOR['E]AL (fl[=o]-r[=a]-al'), the 8th month of the French revolutionary calendar, April 20-May 20.--_adj._ FL[=O]'RE[=A]TED, decorated with floral ornament.--_n._ FLORES'CENCE, a bursting into flower: (_bot._) the time when plants flower.--_adj._ FLORES'CENT, bursting into flowers.--_n._ FL[=O]'RET (_bot._), the flowers of any small and closely crowded inflorescence which resembles at first sight a single flower--e.g. composites, teasels, grasses, &c.--_adj._ FL[=O]RICUL'TURAL.--_ns._ FL[=O]'RICULTURE, the culture of flowers or plants; FL[=O]RICUL'TURIST, a florist.--_adj._ FLOR'ID, bright in colour: flushed with red: containing flowers of rhetoric or lively figures: richly ornamental.--_adv._ FLOR'IDLY.--_n._ FLOR'IDNESS.--_adjs._ FL[=O]RIF'EROUS, bearing or producing flowers; FL[=O]'RIFORM, flower-shaped.--_ns._ FL[=O]RIL[=E]'GIUM, an anthology or collection of choice extracts; FLOR'IST, a cultivator of flowers: one who writes an account of plants. [L. _Flora_, the goddess of flowers.]

FLORENTINE, flor'en-tin, _adj._ pertaining to _Florence_ in Tuscany.--_n._ a native or inhabitant thereof: a durable silk textile fabric--also FLOR'ENCE: a pie with no crust beneath the meat.

FLORIN, flor'in, _n._ an English silver coin worth 2s., first minted in 1849: in Austria the unit of account, otherwise called _gulden_, with a value about 2s.: in Holland sometimes called _guilder_, and worth about 1s. 8d.: (_orig._) a Florentine gold coin with a lily stamped on one side, first struck in the 11th century. [Fr., from It. _fiorino_--_fiore_, a lily--L. _flos_.]

FLORUIT, fl[=o]'r[=u]-it, _n._ the period during which a person flourished. [L., 3d pers. sing. perf. of _flor[=e]re_, to flourish.]

FLOSCULE, flos'k[=u]l, _n._ a floret.--_adjs._ FLOS'CULAR, FLOS'CULOUS, composed of many floscules or tubular florets. [L. _flosculus_, dim. of _flos_, a flower.]

FLOSS, flos, _n._ the loose downy or silky substance in the husks of certain plants, as the bean--also FLOSH.--_n._ FLOSS'-SILK, very fine silk fibre extremely soft and downy and with a high lustre, used chiefly for embroidery.--_adj._ FLOSS'Y. [Prob. O. Fr. _flosche_, down: or from some Teut. word cog. with _fleece_--cf. Ice. _flos_, nap.]

FLOTA, fl[=o]'ta, _n._ a commercial fleet: formerly the fleet which annually conveyed the produce of America to Spain. [Sp., 'a fleet.']

FLOTAGE. See FLOATAGE.

FLOTANT, fl[=o]t'ant, _adj._ (_her._) floating in air or in water.

FLOTATION, flo-t[=a]'shun, _n._ the act of floating: the science of floating bodies: act of floating a company or commercial enterprise.--PLANE, or LINE, OF FLOTATION, the plane or line in which the horizontal surface of a fluid cuts a body floating in it.

FLOTILLA, flo-til'a, _n._ a fleet of small ships. [Sp., dim. of _flota_, a fleet.]

FLOTSAM, flot'sam, _n._ goods lost by shipwreck, and found floating on the sea (see JETSAM). [Anglo-Fr. _floteson_ (Fr. _flottaison_)--O. Fr. _floter_, to float.]

FLOUNCE, flowns, _v.i._ to move abruptly or impatiently--_n._ an impatient gesture. [Prob. cog. with Norw. _flunsa_, to hurry, Sw. prov. _flunsa_, to souse.]

FLOUNCE, flowns, _n._ a plaited strip sewed to the skirt of a dress.--_v.t._ to furnish with flounces.--_n._ FLOUN'CING, material for flounces. [Earlier form _frounce_--O. Fr. _fronce_, _fronche_, prob. from L. _frons_, forehead; or Old High Ger. _runza_, a wrinkle, Ger. _runze_.]

FLOUNDER, flown'd[.e]r, _v.i._ to struggle with violent and awkward motion: to stumble helplessly in thinking or speaking. [Prob. an onomatopoeic blending of the sound and sense of earlier words like _founder_, _blunder_. Skeat compares Dut. _flodderen_, to splash.]

FLOUNDER, flown'd[.e]r, _n._ a small flat-fish, generally found in the sea near the mouth of rivers. [Anglo-Fr., _floundre_, O. Fr. _flondre_, most prob. of Scand. origin; cf. Ice. _flydhra_, Sw. _flundra_.]

FLOUR, flowr, _n._ the finely-ground meal of wheat or other grain: the fine soft powder of any substance.--_v.t._ to reduce into or sprinkle with flour.--_v.i._ to break up into fine globules of mercury in the amalgamation process.--_ns._ FLOUR'-BOLT, a machine for bolting flour; FLOUR'-MILL, a mill for making flour.--_adj._ FLOUR'Y, covered with flour. [Fr. _fleur_ (_de farine_, of meal), fine flour--L. _flos_, _floris_, a flower.]

FLOURISH, flur'ish, _v.i._ to thrive luxuriantly: to be prosperous: to use copious and flowery language: to move in fantastic figures: to display ostentatiously: (_mus._) to play ostentatious passages, or ostentatiously: to play a trumpet-call: to make ornamental strokes with the pen: to boast or brag.--_v.t._ to adorn with flourishes or ornaments: to swing about by way of show or triumph: (_Shak._) to gloss over.--_n._ decoration: showy splendour: a figure made by a bold stroke of the pen: the waving of a weapon or other thing: a parade of words: a musical prelude: a trumpet-call.--_adjs._ FLOUR'ISHED, decorated with flourishes; FLOUR'ISHING, thriving: prosperous: making a show.--_adv._ FLOUR'ISHINGLY.--_adj._ FLOUR'ISHY, abounding in flourishes.--FLOURISH OF TRUMPETS, a trumpet-call sounded on the approach of great persons; any ostentatious introduction. [O. Fr. _florir_, L. _flos_, flower.]

FLOUSE, flows, _v.t._ and _v.i._ (_prov._) to splash.--Also FLOUSH.

FLOUT, flowt, _v.t._ and _v.i._ to jeer, mock, or insult: to treat with contempt.--_n._ a mock: an insult.--_adv._ FLOUT'INGLY, with flouting: insultingly.--_n._ FLOUT'ING-STOCK (_Shak._), an object for flouting. [Prob. a specialised use of _floute_, M. E. form of _flute_, to play on the flute. So with Dut. _fluiten_.]

FLOW, fl[=o], _v.i._ to run, as water: to rise, as the tide: to move in a stream, as air: to glide smoothly: to circulate, as the blood: to abound: to hang loose and waving: (_B._) to melt.--_v.t._ to cover with water.--_n._ a stream or current: the setting in of the tide: abundance: copiousness: free expression.--_n._ FLOW'AGE, act of flowing: state of being flooded.--_adj._ FLOW'ING, moving, as a fluid: fluent or smooth: falling in folds or in waves.--_adv._ FLOW'INGLY.--_n._ FLOW'INGNESS. [A.S. _fl['o]wan_; Ger. _fliessen_.]

FLOW, flow, _n._ a morass: (_Scot._) a flat, moist tract of land. [Ice. _floi_, a marsh--_fl['o]a_, to flood.]

FLOWER, flow'[.e]r, _n._ a growth comprising the reproductive organs of plants: the blossom of a plant: the best of anything: the prime of life: the person or thing most distinguished: a figure of speech: ornament of style: (_pl._) menstrual discharge (_B._).--_v.t._ to adorn with figures of flowers.--_v.i._ to blossom: to flourish.--_ns._ FLOW'ERAGE, a gathering of flowers; FLOW'ER-BELL, a blossom shaped like a bell; FLOW'ER-BUD, a bud with the unopened flower; FLOW'ER-CLOCK, a collection of flowers so arranged that the time of day is indicated by their times of opening and closing; FLOW'ER-DE-LUCE, the old name for the common species of iris (q.v.), or for the heraldic emblem conventionalised therefrom (see FLEUR-DE-LIS); FLOW'ERET, a little flower: a floret; FLOW'ER-HEAD, a compound flower in which all the florets are sessile on the receptacle; FLOW'ERINESS; FLOW'ERING-RUSH, a monocotyledonous plant usually reckoned under the order _Alismaceae_, with large linear three-edged leaves and an umbel of rose-coloured flowers.--_adjs._ FLOW'ER-KIR'TLED, FLOW'ERY-KIR'TLED (_Milt._), dressed in robes or garlands of flowers; FLOW'ERLESS (_bot._) having no flowers.--_ns._ FLOW'ER-POT, a utensil in culture whereby plants are rendered portable;, FLOW'ER-SERV'ICE, a church service where offerings of flowers are made, to be afterwards sent to hospitals; FLOW'ER-SHOW, an exhibition of flowers; FLOW'ER-STALK, the stem that supports the flower.--_adj._ FLOW'ERY, full of, or adorned with, flowers: highly embellished, florid.--FLOWER OF JOVE, a caryophyllaceous plant, with heads of purple or scarlet flowers, and leaves silky-white with hairs. [O. Fr. _flour_ (Fr. _fleur_)--L. _flos_, _floris_, a flower.]

FLOWN, fl[=o]n, _pa.p._ of _fly_.

FLOWN, fl[=o]n, _adj._ inflated, flushed: (_Milt._) overflown.

FLUATE, fl[=oo]'[=a]t, _n._ Same as FLUORIDE.

FLUCTUATE, fluk't[=u]-[=a]t, _v.i._ to float backward and forward: to roll hither and thither: to be irresolute.--_v.t._ to cause to move hither and thither.--_adjs._ FLUC'TUANT; FLUC'TU[=A]TING.--_ns._ FLUCTU[=A]'TION, a rising and falling like a wave: motion hither and thither: agitation: unsteadiness; FLUCTUOS'ITY.--_adj._ FLUC'TUOUS. [L. _fluctu[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_fluctus_, a wave--_flu[)e]re_, to flow.]

FLUE, fl[=oo], _n._ a smoke-pipe or small chimney. [Prob. related to _flue_, to expand, splay out.]

FLUE, fl[=oo], _n._ light down: soft down or fur.--_adj._ FLU'EY. [Ety. unknown; conn. with _fluff_.]

FLUE, fl[=oo], _adj._ (_prov._) shallow, flat.--Also FLEW.

FLUENT, fl[=oo]'ent, _adj._ ready in the use of words: voluble: marked by copiousness.--_n._ the variable quantity in fluxions.--_ns._ FLU'ENCE (_Milt._), FLU'ENCY, FLU'ENTNESS, readiness or rapidity of utterance: volubility.--_adv._ FLU'ENTLY. [L. _fluens_, _fluentis_, pr.p. of _flu[)e]re_, to flow.]

FLUFF, fluf, _n._ a soft down from cotton, &c.: anything downy.--_n._ FLUFF'INESS.--_adj._ FLUFF'Y. [Perh. conn. with _flue_, light down.]

FLUGELMAN, fl[=oo]'gl-man', _n._ Same as FUGLEMAN.--_n._ FL[:U]'GEL-HORN, a hunting-horn, a kind of keyed bugle.

FLUID, fl[=oo]'id, _adj._ that flows, as water: liquid or gaseous.--_n._ a substance in which the particles can move about with greater or less freedom from one part of the body to another.--_adjs._ FLU'IDAL; FLUID'IC; FLUID'IFORM.--_vs.t._ FLUID'IFY, FLU'IDISE, to make fluid.--_ns._ FLU'IDISM; FLUID'ITY, FLU'IDNESS, a liquid or gaseous state.--_adv._ FLU'IDLY. [Fr.,--L. _fluidus_, fluid--_flu[)e]re_, to flow.]

FLUKE, fl[=oo]k, _n._ a flounder: a parasitic trematoid worm which causes the liver-rot in sheep, so called because like a miniature flounder: a variety of kidney potato. [A.S. _fl['o]c_, a plaice; cf. Ice. _fl['o]ke_.]

FLUKE, fl[=oo]k, _n._ the part of an anchor which fastens in the ground.--_adj._ FLUK'Y. [Prob. a transferred use of the foregoing.]

FLUKE, fl[=oo]k, _n._ a successful shot made by chance, as at billiards: any unexpected advantage.

FLUME, fl[=oo]m, _n._ an artificial channel for water to be applied to some industrial purpose: (_U.S._) a narrow defile with upright walls, the bottom occupied by a torrent.--BE, or GO, UP THE FLUME, to come to grief, to be done for. [O. Fr. _flum_--L. _flumen_, a river--_flu[)e]re_, to flow.]

FLUMMERY, flum'[.e]r-i, _n._ an acid jelly made from the husks of oats: the Scotch sowens: anything insipid: empty compliment. [W. _llymru_--_llymrig_, harsh, raw--_llym_, sharp, severe.]

FLUMMOX, flum'oks, _v.t._ (_slang_) to perplex: defeat.

FLUMP, flump, _v.t._ (_coll._) to throw down violently.--_v.i._ to throw one's self down heavily.--_n._ the dull sound so produced. [Imit.]

FLUNG, flung, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of _fling_.

FLUNKEY, flung'ki, _n._ a livery servant: a footman: a mean, cringing fellow.--_n._ FLUN'KEYDOM.--_adj._ FLUN'KEYISH.--_n._ FLUN'KEYISM. [Perh. orig. _flanker_, one who runs along by the side of.]

FLUOR, fl[=oo]'or, _n._ a mineral often described as chemically fluate of lime, but really calcium fluoride, found abundantly in Derbyshire--also FLU'OR-SPAR, FLU'ORITE.--_ns._ FLUORES'CEIN, a coal-tar product, little used in dyeing, the colour not being fast; FLUORES'CENCE, a peculiar blue appearance exhibited by certain substances exposed to sunlight, and especially observable in a dilute solution of sulphate of quinine.--_adjs._ FLUORES'CENT, having the property of fluorescence; FLUOR'IC.--_ns._ FLU'ORIDE, a binary compound of fluorine with another element; FLU'ORINE, an elementary substance allied to chlorine, obtained chiefly from fluor; FLU'OROTYPE, a photographic process in which salts of fluoric acid were employed for the purpose of producing images in the camera; FLUOSIL'ICATE, a compound of fluosilicic acid with some base.--_adj._ FLUOSILIC'IC, composed of silicon and fluorine. [A name given by the alchemists to all mineral acids because of their _fluidity_, from L. _flu[)e]re_, to flow.]

FLURRY, flur'i, _n._ a sudden blast or gust: agitation: bustle: the death-agony of the whale: a fluttering assemblage of things, as snowflakes.--_v.t._ to agitate, to confuse:--_pr.p._ flurr'ying; _pa.p._ flurr'ied.--_v.t._ FLURR, to scatter.--_v.i._ to fly up. [Prob. onomatopoeic, suggested by _flaw_, _hurry_, &c.]

FLUSH, flush, _n._ a flow of blood to the face causing redness: sudden impulse: bloom, freshness, vigour: abundance.--_v.i._ to become red in the face: to flow swiftly.--_v.t._ to make red in the face: to cleanse by a copious flow of water: to elate, excite the spirits of: mostly in the _pa.p._ flushed (with victory).--_adj._ (of weather) hot and heavy: abounding: well supplied, as with money: (_Shak._) in full bloom.--_n._ FLUSH'-BOX, a rectangular tank supplied with water for flushing the bowls of water-closets.--_adj._ FLUSHED, suffused with ruddy colour: excited.--_ns._ FLUSH'ER, one who flushes sewers; FLUSH'ING, action of the verb _flush_: sudden reddening; FLUSH'NESS, quality of being flush.--_adj._ FLUSH'Y, reddish. [Prob. orig. identical with succeeding word, but meaning influenced by phonetic association with _flash_, the senses relating to colour by _blush_.]

FLUSH, flush, _v.i._ to start up like an alarmed bird.--_v.t._ to rouse and cause to start off.--_n._ the act of starting: (_Spens._) a bird, or a flock of birds so started. [Prob. onomatopoeic; suggested by _fly_, _flutter_, and _rush_.]

FLUSH, flush, _v.t._ to make even: to fill up to the level of a surface (often with _up_).--_adj._ having the surface level with the adjacent surface. [Prob. related to _flush_ above.]

FLUSH, flush, _n._ in card-playing, a hand in which all the cards or a specified number are of the same suit.--_adj._ in poker, consisting of cards all of the same suit.--STRAIGHT, or ROYAL, FLUSH, in poker, a sequence of five cards of the same suit. [Prob. Fr. _flux_--L. _fluxus_, flow.]

FLUSTER, flus't[.e]r, _n._ hurrying: confusion: heat.--_v.t._ to make hot and confused: to fuddle.--_v.i._ to bustle: to be agitated or fuddled.--_v.t._ FLUS'TER[=A]TE, to fluster.--_n._ FLUSTER[=A]'TION.--_adj._ FLUS'TERED, fuddled: flurried.--_n._ FLUS'TERMENT.--_adj._ FLUS'TERY, confused. [Ice. _flaustr_, hurry.]

FLUSTRA, flus'tra, _n._ one of the commonest genera of marine Polyzoa.

FLUTE, fl[=oo]t, _n._ a musical pipe with finger-holes and keys sounded by blowing: in organ-building, a stop with stopped wooden pipes, having a flute-like tone: one of a series of curved furrows, as on a pillar, called also _Fluting_: a tall and narrow wine-glass: a shuttle in tapestry-weaving, &c.--_v.i._ to play the flute.--_v.t._ to play or sing in soft flute-like tones: to form flutes or grooves in.--_adj._ FLUT'ED, ornamented with flutes, channels, or grooves.--_ns._ FLUT'ER; FLUTI'NA (t[=e]'-), a kind of accordion; FLUT'ING-MACHINE', a machine for corrugating sheet-metal, also a wood-turning machine for forming twisted, spiral, and fluted balusters; FLUT'IST.--_adj._ FLUT'Y, in tone like a flute. [O. Fr. _fle[:u]te_; ety. dub.]

FLUTTER, flut'[.e]r, _v.i._ to move about with bustle: to vibrate: to be in agitation or in uncertainty: (_obs._) to be frivolous.--_v.t._ to throw into disorder: to move in quick motions.--_n._ quick, irregular motion: agitation: confusion: a hasty game at cards, &c. [A.S. _flotorian_, to float about, from _flot_, the sea, stem of _fl['e]otan_, to float.]

FLUVIAL, fl[=oo]'vi-al, _adj._ of or belonging to rivers.--_n._ FLU'VIALIST.--_adjs._ FLUVIAT'IC, FLU'VIATILE, belonging to or formed by rivers. [L. _fluvialis_--_fluvius_, a river, _flu[)e]re_, to flow.]

FLUX, fluks, _n._ act of flowing: a flow of matter: quick succession: a discharge generally from a mucous membrane: matter discharged: excrement: the term given to the substances employed in the arts to assist the reduction of a metallic ore and the fusion of a metal.--_v.t._ to melt.--_v.i._ to flow.--_ns._ FLUX'[=A]TION, the act of flowing or passing away; FLUXIBIL'ITY, FLUX'IBLENESS.--_adjs._ FLUX'IBLE, FLUX'IDE, that may be melted.--_ns._ FLUXIL'ITY; FLUX'ION, a flowing or discharge: a difference or variation: (_math._) the rate of change of a continuously varying quantity: (_pl._) the name given after Newton to that branch of mathematics which with a different notation is known after Leibnitz as the differential and integral calculus.--_adjs._ FLUX'IONAL, FLUX'IONARY, variable: inconstant.--_n._ FLUX'IONIST, one skilled in fluxions.--_adj._ FLUX'IVE (_Shak._), flowing with tears. [O. Fr.,--L. _fluxus_--_flu[)e]re_, to flow.]

FLY, fl[=i], _v.i._ to move through the air on wings: to move swiftly: to pass away: to flee: to burst quickly or suddenly: to flutter.--_v.t._ to avoid, flee from: to cause to fly, as a kite:--_pr.p._ fly'ing; _pa.t._ flew (fl[=oo]); _pa.p._ flown (fl[=o]n).--_n._ a popular name best restricted in its simplicity to the insects forming the order _Diptera_, but often so widely used with a prefix--e.g. _butterfly_, _dragon-fly_, _May-fly_--as to be virtually equivalent to insect: a fish-hook dressed with silk, &c., in imitation of a fly: a light double-seated carriage, a hackney-coach: (_mech._) a flywheel: (_pl._) the large space above the proscenium in a theatre, from which the scenes, &c., are controlled.--_adj._ wide-awake: (_slang_) knowing.--_adjs._ FLY'AWAY, flighty; FLY'-BIT'TEN, marked by the bite of flies.--_n._ FLY'BLOW, the egg of a fly.--_adj._ FLY'BLOWN, tainted with the eggs which produce maggots.--_ns._ FLY'BOAT, a long, narrow, swift boat used on canals; FLY'BOOK, a case like a book for holding fishing-flies; FLY'-CATCH'ER, a small bird, so called from its catching flies while on the wing; FLY'-FISH'ER, one who fishes with artificial flies as bait; FLY'-FISH'ING, the art of so fishing; FLY'-FLAP'PER, one who drives away flies with a fly-flap; FLY'ING-BRIDGE, a kind of ferry-boat which is moved across a river by the action of the combined forces of the stream and the resistance of a long rope or chain made fast to a fixed buoy in the middle of the river; FLY'ING-BUTT'RESS, an arch-formed prop which connects the walls of the upper and central portions of an aisled structure with the vertical buttresses of the outer walls; FLY'ING-CAMP, a body of troops for rapid motion from one place to another; FLY'ING-DUTCH'MAN, a Dutch black spectral ship, whose captain is condemned for his impieties to sweep the seas around the Cape of Storms unceasingly, without ever being able to reach a haven; FLY'ING-FISH, a fish which can leap from the water and sustain itself in the air for a short time, by its long pectoral fins, as if flying; FLY'ING-FOX, a large frugivorous bat; FLY'ING-L[=E]'MUR, a galeopithecoid insectivore whose fore and hind limbs are connected by a fold of skin, enabling it to make flying leaps from tree to tree; FLY'ING-PAR'TY, a small body of soldiers, equipped for rapid movements, used to harass an enemy; FLY'ING-PHALAN'GER, a general popular name for the petaurists; FLY'ING-SHOT, a shot fired at something in motion; FLY'ING-SQUID, a squid having broad lateral fins by means of which it can spring high out of the water; FLY'ING-SQUIRR'EL, a name given to two genera of squirrels, which have a fold of skin between the fore and hind legs, by means of which they can take great leaps in the air; FLY'LEAF, a blank leaf at the beginning and end of a book; FLY'-LINE, a line for angling with an artificial fly; FLY'-MAK'ER, one who ties artificial flies for angling; FLY'MAN, one who works the ropes in the flies of a theatre; FLY'P[=A]PER, a porous paper impregnated with poison for destroying flies; FLY'-POW'DER, a poisonous powder used for killing flies; FLY'-RAIL, that part of a table which turns out to support the leaf.--_adj._ (_Shak._) moving slow as a fly on its feet.--_ns._ FLY'-ROD, a light flexible rod used in fly-fishing, usually in three pieces--butt, second-joint, and tip; FLY'-TRAP, a trap to catch flies: (_bot._) the spreading dog-bane, also the Venus's fly-trap; FLY'WHEEL, a large wheel with a heavy rim applied to machinery to equalise the effect of the driving effort.--FLY AT, to attack suddenly; FLY IN THE FACE OF, to insult: to oppose; FLY OPEN, to open suddenly or violently; FLY OUT, to break out in a rage; FLY THE KITE, to obtain money as by accommodation bills, the endorser himself having no money; FLY UPON, to seize: to attack.--A FLY IN THE OINTMENT, some slight flaw which corrupts a thing of value (Eccles. x. i.); BREAK A FLY ON THE WHEEL, to subject to a punishment out of all proportion to the gravity of the offence; LET FLY, to attack: to throw or send off; MAKE THE FEATHERS FLY (see FEATHERS). [A.S. _fl['e]ogan_, pa.t. _fle['a]h_; Ger. _fliegen_.]

FLYTE, FLITE, fl[=i]t, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to scold, to brawl.--_n._ FLYTE, FLYT'ING, a scolding, or heated dispute. [A.S. _fl['i]tan_, to strive; Ger. _be-fleissen_.]

FOAL, f[=o]l, _n._ the young of a mare or of a she-ass.--_v.i._ and _v.t._ to bring forth a foal.--_ns._ FOAL'FOOT, colts-foot; FOAL'ING, bringing forth of a foal or young. [A.S. _fola_; Ger. _fohlen_, Gr. _p[=o]los_; L. _pullus_.]

FOAM, f[=o]m, _n._ froth: the bubbles which rise on the surface of liquors: fury.--_v.i._ to gather foam: to be in a rage.--_v.t._ (_B._) to throw out with rage or violence (with _out_).--_adv._ FOAM'INGLY.--_adjs._ FOAM'LESS, without foam; FOAM'Y, frothy. [A.S. _f['a]m_; Ger. _feim_, prob. akin to L. _spuma_.]

FOB, fob, _n._ a trick.--_v.t._ to cheat. [Prob. a corr. of O. Fr. _forbe_, a rogue; or Ger. _foppen_, to jeer.]

FOB, fob, _n._ a small pocket in the waistband of trousers for a watch: a chain with seals, &c., hanging from the fob. [If orig. a secret pocket, perh. connected with the above.]