| fid | 1. A square bar of wood or iron, used to support the topmast, being passed through a hole or mortise at its heel, and resting on the trestle trees. 2. A wooden or metal bar or pin, used to support or steady anything. 3. A pin of hard wood, tapering to a point, used to open the strands of a rope in splicing. There are hand fids and standing fids (which are larger than the others, and stand upon a flat base). An iron implement for this purpose is called a marline spike. 4. A block of wood used in mounting and dismounting heavy guns. Origin: Prov. E. Fid a small, thick lump. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| fiddle | 1. A stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a kit. 2. <botany> A kind of dock (Rumex pulcher) with fiddle-shaped leaves; called also fiddle dock. 3. A rack or frame of bars connected by strings, to keep table furniture in place on the cabin table in bad weather. <zoology> Fiddle beetle, the angel fish. Fiddle head, an ornament on a ship's bow, curved like the volute or scroll at the head of a violin. Fiddle pattern, a form of the handles of spoons, forks, etc, somewhat like a violin. Scotch fiddle, the itch. To play first, or second, fiddle, to take a leading or a subordinate part. Origin: OE. Fidele, fithele, AS. Fiele; akin to D. Vedel, OHG. Fidula, G. Fiedel, Icel. Fila, and perh. To E. Viol. Cf. Viol. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fiddle-shaped | <botany> Inversely ovate, with a deep hollow on each side. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fiddledeedee | An exclamatory word or phrase, equivalent to nonsense! Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fiddler | 1. One who plays on a fiddle or violin. 2. <zoology> A burrowing crab of the genus Gelasimus, of many species. The male has one claw very much enlarged, and often holds it in a position similar to that in which a musician holds a fiddle, hence the name; called also calling crab, soldier crab, and fighting crab. 3. <zoology> The common European sandpiper (Tringoides hypoleucus); so called because it continually oscillates its body. Fiddler crab. <zoology> See Fiddler. Origin: AS. Fielere. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fiddlewood | The wood of several West Indian trees, mostly of the genus Citharexylum. Origin: Corrupted fr. F. Bois-fidele, lit, faithful wood; so called from its durability. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fide | On the authority of, or with reference to publication, to a cited published statement. (09 Jan 1998) |
| fidia | <zoology> A genus of small beetles, of which one species (the grapevine Fidia, F. Longipes) is very injurious to vines in America. Origin: NL, prob. Fr. L. Fidus trusty. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fiducial | 1. Having faith or trust; confident; undoubting; firm. "Fiducial reliance on the promises of God." 2. Having the nature of a trust; fiduciary; as, fiducial power. <astronomy> Fiducial edge, the straight edge of the alidade or ruler along which a straight line is to be drawn. <mathematics> Fiducial line or point, a line or point of reference, as for setting a graduated circle or scale used for measurments. Origin: L. Fiducia trust, confidence; akin to fides faith. See Faith. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fiduciary | 1. One who holds a thing in trust for another; a trustee. "Instrumental to the conveying God's blessing upon those whose fiduciaries they are." (Jer. Taylor) 2. One who depends for salvation on faith, without works; an Antinomian. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |