Chapter X: Part 10

Fitch, n. [Contr. of fitched.] (Zoˆl.) The European polecat; also, its fur.

Fitch"È (?), a. [Cf. F. fichÈ, lit. p. p. of ficher to fasten, OF. fichier to pierce. Cf. 1st Fish.] (Her.) Sharpened to a point; pointed.

Cross fitchÈ, a cross having the lower arm pointed.

Fitched (?), a. (her.) FitchÈ. [Also fiched.]

{ Fitch"et (?), Fitch"ew (?) }, n. [Cf. OF. fisseau, fissel, OD. fisse, visse, vitsche, D. vies nasty, loathsome, E. fizz.] (Zoˆl.) The European polecat (Putorius fútidus). See Polecat.

Fitch"y (?), a. Having fitches or vetches.

Fitch"y, a. [See FitchÈ.] (Her.) FitchÈ.

Fit"ful (?), a. [From 7th Fit.] Full of fits; irregularly variable; impulsive and unstable.

After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well.

Shak.

-- Fit"ful*ly, adv. -- Fit"ful*ness, n.

The victorious trumpet peal Dies fitfully away.

Macaulay.

{ Fith"el (?), Fith"ul (?) }, n. [OE. See Fiddle.] A fiddle. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fit"ly (?), adv. In a fit manner; suitably; properly; conveniently; as, a maxim fitly applied.

Fit"ment (?), n. The act of fitting; that which is proper or becoming; equipment. [Obs.] Shak.

Fit"ness, n. The state or quality of being fit; as, the fitness of measures or laws; a person's fitness for office.

Fitt (?), n. See 2d Fit.

Fit"ta*ble (?), a. Suitable; fit. [Obs.] Sherwood.

Fit"ted*ness (?), n. The state or quality of being fitted; adaptation. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Fit"ter (?), n. 1. One who fits or makes to fit; esp.: (a) One who tries on, and adjusts, articles of dress. (b) One who fits or adjusts the different parts of machinery to each other.

2. A coal broker who conducts the sales between the owner of a coal pit and the shipper. [Eng.] Simmonds.

Fit"ter, n. A little piece; a flitter; a flinder. [Obs.]

Where's the Frenchman? Alas, he's all fitters.

Beau. & Fl.

Fit"ting (?), n. Anything used in fitting up; especially (pl.), necessary fixtures or apparatus; as, the fittings of a church or study; gas fittings.

Fit"ting, a. Fit; appropriate; suitable; proper. -- Fit"ting*ly, adv. -- Fit"ting*ness, n. Jer. Taylor.

Fit"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) A plant (Eryngium fútidum) supposed to be a remedy for fits.

Fitz (?), n. [OF. fils, filz, fiz, son, F. fils, L. filius. See Filial.] A son; -- used in compound names, to indicate paternity, esp. of the illegitimate sons of kings and princes of the blood; as, Fitzroy, the son of the king; Fitzclarence, the son of the duke of Clarence.

Five (?), a. [OE. fif, five, AS. ff, ffe; akin to D. vijf, OS. ff, OHG. finf, funf, G. f¸nf, Icel. fimm, Sw. & Sw. Dan. fem, Goth. fimf, Lith. penki, W. pump, OIr. cÛic, L. quinque, Gr. &?;, ∆ol. &?;, Skr. pa&?;can. √303. Cf. Fifth, Cinque, Pentagon, Punch the drink, Quinary.] Four and one added; one more than four.

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Five nations (Ethnol.), a confederacy of the Huron-Iroquois Indians, consisting of five tribes: Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas, Oneidas, and Senecas. They inhabited the region which is now the State of new York.

Five (fv), n. 1. The number next greater than four, and less than six; five units or objects.

Five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Matt. xxv. 2.

2. A symbol representing this number, as 5, or V.

Five"-fin`ger (?), n. 1. (Bot.) See Cinquefoil.

2. (Zoˆl.) A starfish with five rays, esp. Asterias rubens.

Five"fold` (?), a. & adv. In fives; consisting of five in one; five repeated; quintuple.

Five"-leaf` (?), n. Cinquefoil; five-finger.

{ Five"-leafed` (?), Five"-leaved` (?) }, a. (Bot.) Having five leaflets, as the Virginia creeper.

Five"ling (?), n. (Min.) A compound or twin crystal consisting of five individuals.

Fives (fvz), n. pl. A kind of play with a ball against a wall, resembling tennis; -- so named because three fives, or fifteen, are counted to the game. Smart.

Fives court, a place for playing fives.

Fives, n. [See Vives.] A disease of the glands under the ear in horses; the vives. Shak.

Five`-twen"ties (?), n. pl. Five- twenty bonds of the United States (bearing six per cent interest), issued in 1862, '64, and '65, redeemable after five and payable in twenty years.

Fix (fks), a. [OE., fr. L. fixus, p. p. of figere to fix; cf. F. fixe.] Fixed; solidified. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fix, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fixed (fkst); p. pr. & vb. n. Fixing.] [Cf. F. fixer.] 1. To make firm, stable, or fast; to set or place permanently; to fasten immovably; to establish; to implant; to secure; to make definite.

An ass's nole I fixed on his head.

Shak.

O, fix thy chair of grace, that all my powers May also fix their
reverence.

Herbert.

His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

Ps. cxii. 7.

And fix far deeper in his head their stings.

Milton.

2. To hold steadily; to direct unwaveringly; to fasten, as the eye on an object, the attention on a speaker.

Sat fixed in thought the mighty Stagirite.

Pope.

One eye on death, and one full fix'd on heaven.

Young.

3. To transfix; to pierce. [Obs.] Sandys.

4. (Photog.) To render (an impression) permanent by treating with such applications as will make it insensible to the action of light. Abney.

5. To put in order; to arrange; to dispose of; to adjust; to set to rights; to set or place in the manner desired or most suitable; hence, to repair; as, to fix the clothes; to fix the furniture of a room. [Colloq. U.S.]

6. (Iron Manuf.) To line the hearth of (a puddling furnace) with fettling.

Syn. -- To arrange; prepare; adjust; place; establish; settle; determine.

Fix, v. i. 1. To become fixed; to settle or remain permanently; to cease from wandering; to rest.

Your kindness banishes your fear, Resolved to fix forever here.

Waller.

2. To become firm, so as to resist volatilization; to cease to flow or be fluid; to congeal; to become hard and malleable, as a metallic substance. Bacon.

To fix on, to settle the opinion or resolution about; to determine regarding; as, the contracting parties have fixed on certain leading points.

Fix, n. 1. A position of difficulty or embarassment; predicament; dilemma. [Colloq.]

Is he not living, then? No. is he dead, then? No, nor dead either.
Poor Aroar can not live, and can not die, -- so that he is in an
almighty fix.

De Quincey.

2. (Iron Manuf.) fettling. [U.S.]

Fix"a*ble (-*b'l), a. Capable of being fixed.

Fix*a"tion (fks*"shn), n. [Cf. F. fixation.] 1. The act of fixing, or the state of being fixed.

An unalterable fixation of resolution.

Killingbeck.

To light, created in the first day, God gave no proper place or
fixation.

Sir W. Raleigh.

Marked stiffness or absolute fixation of a joint.

Quain.

A fixation and confinement of thought to a few objects.

Watts.

2. The act of uniting chemically with a solid substance or in a solid form; reduction to a non-volatile condition; -- said of gaseous elements.

3. The act or process of ceasing to be fluid and becoming firm. Glanvill.

4. A state of resistance to evaporation or volatilization by heat; -- said of metals. Bacon.

Fix"a*tive (?), n. That which serves to set or fix colors or drawings, as a mordant.

Fixed (fkst), a. 1. Securely placed or fastened; settled; established; firm; imovable; unalterable.

2. (Chem.) Stable; non- volatile.

Fixed air (Old Chem.), carbonic acid or carbon dioxide; -- so called by Dr. Black because it can be absorbed or fixed by strong bases. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic. -- Fixed alkali (Old Chem.), a non-volatile base, as soda, or potash, in distinction from the volatile alkali ammonia. -- Fixed ammunition (Mil.), a projectile and powder inclosed together in a case ready for loading. -- Fixed battery (Mil.), a battery which contains heavy guns and mortars intended to remain stationary; -- distinguished from movable battery. -- Fixed bodies, those which can not be volatilized or separated by a common menstruum, without great difficulty, as gold, platinum, lime, etc. -- Fixed capital. See the Note under Capital, n., 4. -- Fixed fact, a well established fact. [Colloq.] -- Fixed light, one which emits constant beams; -- distinguished from a flashing, revolving, or intermittent light. -- Fixed oils (Chem.), non-volatile, oily substances, as stearine and olein, which leave a permanent greasy stain, and which can not be distilled unchanged; -- distinguished from volatile or essential oils. -- Fixed pivot (Mil.), the fixed point about which any line of troops wheels. -- Fixed stars (Astron.), such stars as always retain nearly the same apparent position and distance with respect to each other, thus distinguished from planets and comets.

Fix"ed*ly (fks"d*l), adv. In a fixed, stable, or constant manner.

Fix"ed*ness, n. 1. The state or quality of being fixed; stability; steadfastness.

2. The quality of a body which resists evaporation or volatilization by heat; solidity; cohesion of parts; as, the fixedness of gold.

Fix*id"i*ty (fks*d"*t), n. Fixedness. [Obs.] Boyle.

Fix"ing (fks"ng), n. 1. The act or process of making fixed.

2. That which is fixed; a fixture.

3. pl. Arrangements; embellishments; trimmings; accompaniments. [Colloq. U.S.]

Fix"i*ty (-*t), n. [Cf. F. fixitÈ.] 1. Fixedness; as, fixity of tenure; also, that which is fixed.

2. Coherence of parts. Sir I. Newton.

Fix"ture (fks"tr; 135), n. [Cf. Fixure.] 1. That which is fixed or attached to something as a permanent appendage; as, the fixtures of a pump; the fixtures of a farm or of a dwelling, that is, the articles which a tenant may not take away.

2. State of being fixed; fixedness.

The firm fixture of thy foot.

Shak.

3. (Law) Anything of an accessory character annexed to houses and lands, so as to constitute a part of them. This term is, however, quite frequently used in the peculiar sense of personal chattels annexed to lands and tenements, but removable by the person annexing them, or his personal representatives. In this latter sense, the same things may be fixtures under some circumstances, and not fixtures under others. Wharton (Law Dict.). Bouvier.

This word is frequently substituted for fixure (formerly the word in common use) in new editions of old works.

Fix"ure (-r), n. [L. fixura a fastening, fr. figere to fix. See Fix, and cf. Fixture.] Fixed position; stable condition; firmness. [Obs.] Shak.

Fiz"gig` (fz"gg), n. A fishgig. [Obs.] Sandys.

Fiz"gig`, n. [Fizz + gig whirling thing.] A firework, made of damp powder, which makes a fizzing or hissing noise when it explodes.

Fiz"gig`, n. [See Gig a flirt.] A gadding, flirting girl. Gosson.

Fizz (fz), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fizzed (fzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Fizzing.] [Cf. Icel. fsa to break wind, Dan. fise to foist, fizzle, OSw. fisa, G. fisten, feisten. Cf. Foist.] To make a hissing sound, as a burning fuse.

Fizz, n. A hissing sound; as, the fizz of a fly.

Fiz"zle (fz"z'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fizzled (-z'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Fizzling (-zlng).] [See Fizz.] 1. To make a hissing sound.

It is the easiest thing, sir, to be done, As plain as fizzling.

B. Jonson.

2. To make a ridiculous failure in an undertaking. [Colloq. or Low]

To fizzle out, to burn with a hissing noise and then go out, like wet gunpowder; hence, to fail completely and ridiculously; to prove a failure. [Colloq.]

Fiz"zle, n. A failure or abortive effort. [Colloq.]

||Fjord (fyÙrd), n. See Fiord.

Flab"ber*gast (?), v. t. [Cf. Flap, and Aghast.] To astonish; to strike with wonder, esp. by extraordinary statements. [Jocular] Beaconsfield.

Flab`ber*gas*ta"tion (?), n. The state of being flabbergasted. [Jocular] London Punch.

Flab"bi*ly (?), adv. In a flabby manner.

Flab"bi*ness, n. Quality or state of being flabby.

Flab"by (?), a. [See Flap.] Yielding to the touch, and easily moved or shaken; hanging loose by its own weight; wanting firmness; flaccid; as, flabby flesh.

Fla"bel (?), n. [L. flabellum a fan, dim. of flabrum a breeze, fr. flare to blow.] A fan. [Obs.] Huloet.

Fla*bel"late (?), a. [L. flabellatus, p. p. of flabellare to fan, fr. flabellum. See Flabbel.] (Bot.) Flabelliform.

Flab`el*la"tion (?), n. The act of keeping fractured limbs cool by the use of a fan or some other contrivance. Dunglison.

Fla*bel"li*form (?), a. [L. flabellum a fan + -form: cf. F. flabeliforme.] Having the form of a fan; fan-shaped; flabellate.

Fla*bel"li*nerved` (?), a. [L. flabellum a fan + E. nerve.] (Bot.) Having many nerves diverging radiately from the base; -- said of a leaf.

||Fla*bel"lum (?), n. [L. See Flabel.] (Eccl.) A fan; especially, the ||fan carried before the pope on state occasions, made in ostrich and ||peacock feathers. Shipley.

Flab"ile (?), a. [L. flabilis.] Liable to be blown about. Bailey.

Flac"cid (?), a. [L. flaccidus, fr. flaccus flabby: cf. OF. flaccide.] Yielding to pressure for want of firmness and stiffness; soft and weak; limber; lax; drooping; flabby; as, a flaccid muscle; flaccid flesh.

Religious profession . . . has become flacced.

I. Taylor.

-- Flac"cid*ly (#), adv. -- Flac"cid*ness, n.

Flac*cid"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. flacciditÈ.] The state of being flaccid.

Flack"er (?), v. i. [OE. flakeren, fr. flacken to move quickly to and fro; cf. icel. flakka to rove about, AS. flacor fluttering, flying, G. flackern to flare, flicker.] To flutter, as a bird. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

Flack"et (?), n. [OF. flasquet little flask, dim. of flasque a flask.] A barrel-shaped bottle; a flagon.

Flag (flg), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flagged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flagging (?).] [Cf. Icel. flaka to droop, hang loosely. Cf. Flacker, Flag an ensign.] 1. To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp.

As loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast.

T. Moore.

2. To droop; to grow spiritless; to lose vigor; to languish; as, the spirits flag; the streugth flags.

The pleasures of the town begin to flag.

Swift.

Syn. -- To droop; decline; fail; languish; pine.

Flag (flg), v. t. 1. To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness; as, to flag the wings. prior.

2. To enervate; to exhaust the vigor or elasticity of.

Nothing so flags the spirits.

Echard.

Flag, n. [Cf. LG. & G. flagge, Sw. flagg, Dan. flag, D. vlag. See Flag to hang loose.] 1. That which flags or hangs down loosely.

2. A cloth usually bearing a device or devices and used to indicate nationality, party, etc., or to give or ask information; -- commonly attached to a staff to be waved by the wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign; the colors; as, the national flag; a military or a naval flag.

3. (Zoˆl.) (a) A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc. (b) A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks. (c) The bushy tail of a dog, as of a setter.

Black flag. See under Black. -- Flag captain, Flag leutenant, etc., special officers attached to the flagship, as aids to the flag officer. -- Flag officer, the commander of a fleet or squadron; an admiral, or commodore. -- Flag of truse, a white flag carried or displayed to an enemy, as an invitation to conference, or for the purpose of making some communication not hostile. -- Flag share, the flag officer's share of prize money. -- Flag station (Railroad), a station at which trains do not stop unless signaled to do so, by a flag hung out or waved. -- National flag, a flag of a particular country, on which some national emblem or device, is emblazoned. -- Red flag, a flag of a red color, displayed as a signal of danger or token of defiance; the emblem of anarchists. -- To dip, the flag, to mlower it and quickly restore it to its place; -- done as a mark of respect. -- To hang out the white flag, to ask truce or quarter, or, in some cases, to manifest a friendly design by exhibiting a white flag. -- To hang the flag half-mast high or half- staff, to raise it only half way to the mast or staff, as a token or sign of mourning. -- To strike, or lower, the flag, to haul it down, in token of respect, submission, or, in an engagement, of surrender. -- Yellow flag, the quarantine flag of all nations; also carried at a vessel's fore, to denote that an infectious disease is on board.

Flag, v. t. [From Flag an ensign.] 1. To signal to with a flag; as, to flag a train.

2. To convey, as a message, by means of flag signals; as, to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance.

Flag, n. [From Flag to hang loose, to bend down.] (Bot.) An aquatic plant, with long, ensiform leaves, belonging to either of the genera Iris and Acorus.

Cooper's flag, the cat-tail (Typha latifolia), the long leaves of which are placed between the staves of barrels to make the latter water-tight. -- Corn flag. See under 2d Corn. -- Flag broom, a coarse of broom, originally made of flags or rushes. -- Flag root, the root of the sweet flag. -- Sweet flag. See Calamus, n., 2.

Flag, v. t. To furnish or deck out with flags.

Flag, n. [Icel. flaga, cf. Icel. flag spot where a turf has been cut out, and E. flake layer, scale. Cf. Floe.] 1. A flat stone used for paving. Woodward.

2. (Geol.) Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.

Flag, v. t. To lay with flags of flat stones.

The sides and floor are all flagged with . . . marble.

Sandys.

Flag"el*lant (?), n. [L. flagellans, p. p. of flagellare: cf.F. flagellant. See Flagellate.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a fanatical sect which flourished in Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries, and maintained that flagellation was of equal virtue with baptism and the sacrament; -- called also disciplinant.

||Flag`el*la"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr.L. flagellatus, p. p. See ||Flagellate, v. t.] (Zoˆl.) An order of Infusoria, having one or two ||long, whiplike cilia, at the anterior end. It includes monads. See ||Infusoria, and Monad.

Flag"el*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flagellated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flagellating (?).] [L. flagellatus, p. p. of flagellare to scoure, fr. flagellum whip, dim. of flagrum whip, scoure; cf. fligere to strike. Cf. Flall.] To whip; to scourge; to flog.

Fla*gel"late (?), a. 1. Flagelliform.

2. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the Flagellata.

Flag`el*la"tion (?), n. [L. flagellatio: cf. F. flagellation.] A beating or flogging; a whipping; a scourging. Garth.

Flag"el*la`tor (?), n. One who practices flagellation; one who whips or scourges.

Fla*gel"li*form (?), a. [L. flagellum a whip + -form.] Shaped like a whiplash; long, slender, round, flexible, and (comming) tapering.

||Fla*gel"lum (?), n.; pl. E. Flagellums (#), L. Flagella (#). [L., a ||whip. See Flagellate, v. t.] 1. (Bot.) A young, flexible shoot of a ||plant; esp., the long trailing branch of a vine, or a slender branch ||in certain mosses.

2. (Zoˆl.) (a) A long, whiplike cilium. See Flagellata. (b) An appendage of the reproductive apparatus of the snail. (c) A lashlike appendage of a crustacean, esp. the terminal ortion of the antennÊ and the epipodite of the maxilipeds. See Maxilliped.

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Flag"eo*let` (?), n. [F. flageolet, dim. of OF. flaj&?;l (as if fr. a LL. flautio;us), of fla¸te, flahute, F. fl&?;te. See Flute.] (Mus.) A small wooden pipe, having six or more holes, and a mouthpiece inserted at one end. It produces a shrill sound, softer than of the piccolo flute, and is said to have superseded the old recorder.

Flageolet tones (Mus.), the naturel harmonics or overtones of stringed instruments.

Flag"gi*ness (?), n. The condition of being flaggy; laxity; limberness. Johnson.

Flag"ging (?), n. A pavement or sidewalk of flagstones; flagstones, collectively.

Flag"ging, a. Growing languid, weak, or spiritless; weakening; delaying. -- Flag"ging*ly, adv.

Flag"gy (?), a. 1. Weak; flexible; limber. "Flaggy wings." Spenser.

2. Tasteless; insipid; as, a flaggy apple. [Obs.] Bacon.

Flag"gy, a. [From 5th Flag.] Abounding with the plant called flag; as, a flaggy marsh.

Flag"i*tate (?), v. t. [L. flagitatus, p. p. of flagitare to demand. See Flagitious.] To importune; to demand fiercely or with passion. [Archaic] Carcyle.

Flag`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. flagitatio.] Importunity; urgent demand. [Archaic] Carlyle.

Fla*gi"tious (?), a. [L. flagitiosus, fr. flagitium a shameful or disgraceful act, orig., a burning desire, heat of passion, from flagitare to demand hotly, fiercely; cf. flagrare to burn, E. flagrant.] 1. Disgracefully or shamefully criminal; grossly wicked; scandalous; shameful; -- said of acts, crimes, etc.

Debauched principles and flagitious practices.

I. Taylor.

2. Guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; profligate; -- said of persons. Pope.

3. Characterized by scandalous crimes or vices; as, flagitious times. Pope.

Syn. -- Atrocious; villainous; flagrant; heinous; corrupt; profligate; abandoned. See Atrocious.

-- Fla*gi"tious*ly, adv. -- Fla*gi"tious*ness, n.

A sentence so flagitiously unjust.

Macaulay.

Flag"man (?), n.; pl. Flagmen (&?;). One who makes signals with a flag.

Flag"on (?), n. [F. flacon, for flascon, fr. OF. flasche, from LL. flasco. See Flask.] A vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying liquors. It is generally larger than a bottle, and of leather or stoneware rather than of glass.

A trencher of mutton chops, and a flagon of ale.

Macaulay.

Fla"grance (?), n. Flagrancy. Bp. Hall.

Fla"gran*cy (?), n.; pl. Flagrancies (#). [L. flagrantia a burning. See Flagrant.] 1. A burning; great heat; inflammation. [Obs.]

Lust causeth a flagrancy in the eyes.

Bacon.

2. The condition or quality of being flagrant; atrocity; heiniousness; enormity; excess. Steele.

Fla"grant (?), a. [L. flagrans, -antis, p. pr. of flagrate to burn, akin to Gr. &?;: cf. F. flagrant. Cf. Flame, Phlox.] 1. Flaming; inflamed; glowing; burning; ardent.

The beadle's lash still flagrant on their back.

Prior.

A young man yet flagrant from the lash of the executioner or the
beadle.

De Quincey.

Flagrant desires and affections.

Hooker.

2. Actually in preparation, execution, or performance; carried on hotly; raging.

A war the most powerful of the native tribes was flagrant.

Palfrey.

3. Flaming into notice; notorious; enormous; heinous; glaringly wicked.

Syn. -- Atrocious; flagitious; glaring. See Atrocious.

Fla"grant*ly, adv. In a flagrant manner.

Fla"grate (?), v. t. [L. flagrare, flagratum, v.i. & t., to burn.] To burn. [Obs.] Greenhill.

Fla*gra"tion (?), n. A conflagration. [Obs.]

Flag"ship` (?), n. (Naut.) The vessel which carries the commanding officer of a fleet or squadron and flies his distinctive flag or pennant.

Flag"staff` (?), n.; pl. -staves (&?;) or -staffs (&?;). A staff on which a flag is hoisted.

Flag"stone` (?), n. A flat stone used in paving, or any rock which will split into such stones. See Flag, a stone.

Flag"worm` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A worm or grub found among flags and sedge.

Flail (?), n. [L. flagellum whip, scourge, in LL., a threshing flail: cf. OF. flael, flaiel, F. flÈau. See Flagellum.] 1. An instrument for threshing or beating grain from the ear by hand, consisting of a wooden staff or handle, at the end of which a stouter and shorter pole or club, called a swipe, is so hung as to swing freely.

His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn.

Milton.

2. An ancient military weapon, like the common flail, often having the striking part armed with rows of spikes, or loaded. Fairholt.

No citizen thought himself safe unless he carried under his coat a
small flail, loaded with lead, to brain the Popish assassins.

Macaulay.

Flail"y (?), a. Acting like a flail. [Obs.] Vicars.

Flain (?), obs. p. p. of Flay. Chaucer.

Flake (flk), n. [Cf. Icel. flaki, fleki, Dan. flage, D. vlaak.] 1. A paling; a hurdle. [prov. Eng.]

2. A platform of hurdles, or small sticks made fast or interwoven, supported by stanchions, for drying codfish and other things.

You shall also, after they be ripe, neither suffer them to have
straw nor fern under them, but lay them either upon some smooth
table, boards, or flakes of wands, and they will last the longer.

English Husbandman.

3. (Naut.) A small stage hung over a vessel's side, for workmen to stand on in calking, etc.

Flake (flk), n. [Cf. Icel. flakna to flake off, split, flagna to flake off, Sw. flaga flaw, flake, flake plate, Dan. flage snowflake. Cf. Flag a flat stone.] 1. A loose filmy mass or a thin chiplike layer of anything; a film; flock; lamina; layer; scale; as, a flake of snow, tallow, or fish. "Lottle flakes of scurf." Addison.

Great flakes of ice encompassing our boat.

Evelyn.

2. A little particle of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a fire; a flash.

With flakes of ruddy fire.

Somerville.

3. (Bot.) A sort of carnation with only two colors in the flower, the petals having large stripes.

Flake knife (ArchÊol.), a cutting instrument used by savage tribes, made of a flake or chip of hard stone. Tylor. -- Flake stand, the cooling tub or vessel of a still worm. Knight. -- Flake white. (Paint.) (a) The purest white lead, in the form of flakes or scales. (b) The trisnitrate of bismuth. Ure.

Flake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaking.] To form into flakes. Pope.

Flake, v. i. To separate in flakes; to peel or scale off.

Flak"i*ness (?), n. The state of being flaky.

Flak"y (?), a. Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, or cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike.

What showers of mortal hail, what flaky fires!

Watts.

A flaky weight of winter's purest snows.

Wordsworth.

Flam (flm), n. [Cf. AS. fle·m, flm, flight. &radic; 84 . Cf. Flimflam.] A freak or whim; also, a falsehood; a lie; an illusory pretext; deception; delusion. [Obs.]

A perpetual abuse and flam upon posterity.

South.

Flam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flammed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flamming.] To deceive with a falsehood. [Obs.]

God is not to be flammed off with lies.

South.

Flam"beau (?); n.; pl. Flambeaux (#) or Flambeaus (#). [F., fr. OF. flambe flame, for flamble, from L. flammula a little flame, dim. of flamma flame. See Flame.] A flaming torch, esp. one made by combining together a number of thick wicks invested with a quick-burning substance (anciently, perhaps, wax; in modern times, pitch or the like); hence, any torch.

Flam*boy"ant (?), a. [F.] (Arch.) Characterized by waving or flamelike curves, as in the tracery of windows, etc.; -- said of the later (15th century) French Gothic style.

Flam*boy"er (?), n. [F. flamboyer to be bright.] (Bot.) A name given in the East and West Indies to certain trees with brilliant blossoms, probably species of CÊsalpinia.

Flame (flm), n. [OE. flame, flaume, flaumbe, OF. flame, flambe, F. flamme, fr. L. flamma, fr. flamma, fr. flagrare to burn. See Flagrant, and cf. Flamneau, Flamingo.] 1. A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.

2. Burning zeal or passion; elevated and noble enthusiasm; glowing imagination; passionate excitement or anger. "In a flame of zeal severe." Milton.

Where flames refin'd in breasts seraphic glow.

Pope.

Smit with the love of sister arts we came, And met congenial,
mingling flame with flame.

Pope.

3. Ardor of affection; the passion of love. Coleridge.

4. A person beloved; a sweetheart. Thackeray.

Syn. -- Blaze; brightness; ardor. See Blaze.

Flame bridge, a bridge wall. See Bridge, n., 5. -- Flame color, brilliant orange or yellow. B. Jonson. -- Flame engine, an early name for the gas engine. -- Flame manometer, an instrument, invented by Koenig, to obtain graphic representation of the action of the human vocal organs. See Manometer. -- Flame reaction (Chem.), a method of testing for the presence of certain elements by the characteristic color imparted to a flame; as, sodium colors a flame yellow, potassium violet, lithium crimson, boracic acid green, etc. Cf. Spectrum analysis, under Spectrum. -- Flame tree (Bot.), a tree with showy scarlet flowers, as the Rhododendron arboreum in India, and the Brachychiton acerifolium of Australia.

Flame, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaming.] [OE. flamen, flaumben, F. flamber, OF. also, flamer. See Flame, n.] 1. To burn with a flame or blaze; to burn as gas emitted from bodies in combustion; to blaze.

The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame
again.

Shak.

2. To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardor.

He flamed with indignation.

Macaulay.

Flame, v. t. To kindle; to inflame; to excite.

And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly.

Spenser.

Flame"-col`ored (?), a. Of the color of flame; of a bright orange yellow color. Shak.

Flame"less, a. Destitute of flame. Sandys.

Flame"let (?), n. [Flame + - let.] A small flame.

The flamelets gleamed and flickered.

Longfellow.

Fla"men (?), n.; pl. E. Flammens (#), L. Flamines (#). [L.] (Rom. Antiq.) A priest devoted to the service of a particular god, from whom he received a distinguishing epithet. The most honored were those of Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus, called respectively Flamen Dialis, Flamen Martialis, and Flamen Quirinalis.

Affrights the flamens at their service quaint.

Milton.

Fla*min"e*ous (?), a. Pertaining to a flamen; flaminical.

Flam"ing (?), a. 1. Emitting flames; afire; blazing; consuming; illuminating.

2. Of the color of flame; high-colored; brilliant; dazzling. "In flaming yellow bright." Prior.

3. Ardent; passionate; burning with zeal; irrepressibly earnest; as, a flaming proclomation or harangue.

Flam"ing*ly, adv. In a flaming manner.

Fla*min"go (?), n.; pl. Flamingoes (#). [Sp. flamenco, cf. Pg. flamingo, Prov. flammant, F. flamant; prop. a p. pr. meaning flaming. So called in allusion to its color. See Flame.] (Zoˆl.) Any bird of the genus Phúnicopterus. The flamingoes have webbed feet, very long legs, and a beak bent down as if broken. Their color is usually red or pink. The American flamingo is P. ruber; the European is P. antiquorum.

Fla*min"i*cal (?), a. Pertaining to a flamen. Milton.

Flam`ma*bil"ity (?), n. The quality of being flammable; inflammability. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Flam"ma*ble (?), a. Inflammable. [Obs.]

Flam*ma"tion (?), n. The act of setting in a flame or blaze. [Obs.] Sir. T. Browne.

Flam"me*ous (?), a. [L. flammeus from flamma flame.] Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, flame. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Flam*mif"er*ous (?), a. [L. flammifer; flamma flame + ferre to bear.] Producing flame.

Flam*miv"o*mous (?), a. [L. flammivomus; flamma flame + vomere to vomit.] Vomiting flames, as a volcano. W. Thompson. (1745).

Flam"mu*la`ted (?), a. [L. flammula little flame, dim. fr. flamma flame.] Of a reddish color.

Flam"y (?), a. [From Flame.] Flaming; blazing; flamelike; flame-colored; composed of flame. Pope.

Flanch (?), n.; pl. Flanches (#). [Prov. E., a projection, OF. flanche flank. See Flank.] 1. A flange. [R.]. (Her.) A bearing consisting of a segment of a circle encroaching on the field from the side.

Flanches are always in pairs. A pair of flanches is considered one of the subordinaries.

Flanched (?), a. (Her.) Having flanches; -- said of an escutcheon with those bearings.

Flan`co*nade" (?), n. [F.] (Fencing) A thrust in the side.

||Fla`neur" (?), n. [F., fr. fl‚ner to stroll.] One who strolls about ||aimlessly; a lounger; a loafer.

Flang (?), n. A miner's two- pointed pick.

Flange (flnj), n. [Prov. E. flange to project, flanch a projection. See Flanch, Flank.] 1. An external or internal rib, or rim, for strength, as the flange of an iron beam; or for a guide, as the flange of a car wheel (see Car wheel.); or for attachment to another object, as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc. Knight.

2. A plate or ring to form a rim at the end of a pipe when fastened to the pipe.

Blind flange, a plate for covering or closing the end of a pipe. -- Flange joint, a joint, as that of pipes, where the connecting pieces have flanges by which the parts are bolted together. Knight. - - Flange rail, a rail with a flange on one side, to keep wheels, etc. from running off. -- Flange turning, the process of forming a flange on a wrought iron plate by bending and hammering it when hot.

Flange, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanged (flnjd); p. pr. & vb. n. Flanging (fln"jng).] (Mach.) To make a flange on; to furnish with a flange.

Flange, v. i. To be bent into a flange.

Flanged (flnjd), a. Having a flange or flanges; as, a flanged wheel.

Flank (flk), n. [F. flanc, prob. fr. L. flaccus flabby, with n inserted. Cf. Flaccid, Flanch, Flange.] 1. The fleshy or muscular part of the side of an animal, between the ribs and the hip. See Illust. of Beef.

2. (Mil.) (a) The side of an army, or of any division of an army, as of a brigade, regiment, or battalion; the extreme right or left; as, to attack an enemy in flank is to attack him on the side.

When to right and left the front

Divided, and to either flank retired.

Milton.

(b) (Fort.) That part of a bastion which reaches from the curtain to the face, and defends the curtain, the flank and face of the opposite bastion; any part of a work defending another by a fire along the outside of its parapet. See Illust. of Bastion.

3. (Arch.) The side of any building. Brands.

4. That part of the acting surface of a gear wheel tooth that lies within the pitch line.

Flank attack (Mil.), an attack upon the side of an army or body of troops, distinguished from one upon its front or rear. -- Flank company (Mil.), a certain number of troops drawn up on the right or left of a battalion; usually grenadiers, light infantry, or riflemen. -- Flank defense (Fort.), protection of a work against undue exposure to an enemy's direct fire, by means of the fire from other works, sweeping the ground in its front. -- Flank en potence (Mil.), any part of the right or left wing formed at a projecting angle with the line. -- Flank files, the first men on the right, and the last on the left, of a company, battalion, etc. -- Flank march, a march made parallel or obliquely to an enemy's position, in order to turn it or to attack him on the flank. -- Flank movement, a change of march by an army, or portion of one, in order to turn one or both wings of the enemy, or to take up a new position. -- Flanks of a frontier, salient points in a national boundary, strengthened to protect the frontier against hostile incursion. -- Flank patrol, detachments acting independently of the column of an army, but patrolling along its flanks, to secure it against surprise and to observe the movements of the enemy.

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Flank (flk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanked (flkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Flanking.] [Cf. F. flanquer. See Flank, n., and cf. Flanker, v. t.] 1. To stand at the flank or side of; to border upon.

Stately colonnades are flanked with trees.

Pitt.

2. To overlook or command the flank of; to secure or guard the flank of; to pass around or turn the flank of; to attack, or threaten to attack; the flank of.

Flank, v. i. 1. To border; to touch. Bp. Butler.

2. To be posted on the side.

Flank"er (?), n. One who, or that which, flanks, as a skirmisher or a body of troops sent out upon the flanks of an army toguard a line of march, or a fort projecting so as to command the side of an assailing body.

They threw out flankers, and endeavored to dislodge their
assailants.

W. Irwing.

Flank"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flankered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flankering.] [See Flank, v. t.] 1. To defend by lateral fortifications. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.

2. To attack sideways. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Flan"nel (fln"nl), n. [F. flanelle, cf. OF. flaine a pillowcase, a mattress (?); fr. W. gwlanen flannel, fr. gwlan wool; prob. akin to E. wool. Cf. Wool.] A soft, nappy, woolen cloth, of loose texture. Shak.

Adam's flannel. (Bot.) See under Adam. -- Canton flannel, Cotton flannel. See Cotton flannel, under Cotton.

Flan"neled (?), a. Covered or wrapped in flannel.

Flan"nen (?), a. Made or consisting of flannel. [Obs.] "Flannen robes." Dryden.

Flap (?), n. [OE. flappe, flap, blow, bly-flap; cf. D. flap, and E. flap, v.] Anything broad and limber that hangs loose, or that is attached by one side or end and is easily moved; as, the flap of a garment.

A cartilaginous flap upon the opening of the larynx.

Sir T. Browne.

2. A hinged leaf, as of a table or shutter.

3. The motion of anything broad and loose, or a stroke or sound made with it; as, the flap of a sail or of a wing.

4. pl. (Far.) A disease in the lips of horses.

Flap tile, a tile with a bent up portion, to turn a corner or catch a drip. -- Flap valve (Mech.), a valve which opens and shuts upon one hinged side; a clack valve.

Flap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flapping (?).] [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. D. flappen, E. flap, n., flop, flippant, fillip.] 1. To beat with a flap; to strike.

Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings.

Pope.

2. To move, as something broad and flaplike; as, to flap the wings; to let fall, as the brim of a hat.

To flap in the mouth, to taunt. [Obs.] W. Cartwright.

Flap, v. i. 1. To move as do wings, or as something broad or loose; to fly with wings beating the air.

The crows flapped over by twos and threes.

Lowell.

2. To fall and hang like a flap, as the brim of a hat, or other broad thing. Gay.

Flap"drag`on (?), n. 1. A game in which the players catch raisins out burning brandy, and swallow them blazing. Johnson.

2. The thing thus caught and eaten. Johnson.

Cakes and ale, and flapdragons and mummer's plays, and all the
happy sports of Christians night.

C. Kingsley.

Flap"drag`on, v. t. To swallow whole, as a flapdragon; to devour. [Obs.]

See how the sea flapdragoned it.

Shak.

Flap"-eared` (?), a. Having broad, loose, dependent ears. Shak.

Flap"jack` (?), n. 1. A fklat cake turned on the griddle while cooking; a griddlecake or pacake.

2. A fried dough cake containing fruit; a turnover. [Prov. Eng.]

Flap"-mouthed` (?), a. Having broad, hangling lips. [R.] Shak.

Flap"per (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, flaps.

2. See Flipper. "The flapper of a porpoise." Buckley.

Flapper skate (Zoˆl.), a European skate (Raia intermedia).

Flare (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaring.] [Cf. Norw. flara to blaze, flame, adorn with tinsel, dial. Sw. flasa upp, and E. flash, or flacker.] 1. To burn with an unsteady or waving flame; as, the candle flares.

2. To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.

3. To shine out with gaudy colors; to flaunt; to be offensively bright or showy.

With ribbons pendant, flaring about her head.

Shak.

4. To be exposed to too much light. [Obs.]

Flaring in sunshine all the day.

Prior.

5. To open or spread outwards; to project beyond the perpendicular; as, the sides of a bowl flare; the bows of a ship flare.

To flare up, to become suddenly heated or excited; to burst into a passion. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

Flare, n. 1. An unsteady, broad, offensive light.

2. A spreading outward; as, the flare of a fireplace.

Flare, n. Leaf of lard. "Pig's flare." Dunglison.

Flare"-up` (?), n. A sudden burst of anger or passion; an angry dispute. [Colloq.]

Flar"ing (?), a. 1. That flares; flaming or blazing unsteadily; shining out with a dazzling light.

His [the sun's] flaring beams.

Milton.

2. Opening or speading outwards.

Flar"ing*ly, adv. In a flaring manner.

Flash (flsh), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flashed (flsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Flashing.] [Cf. OE. flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa to blaze, E. flush, flare.] 1. To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.

2. To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst instantly and brightly on the sight; to show a momentary brilliancy; to come or pass like a flash.

Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of
unnumbered struggles.

Talfourd.

The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind.

M. Arnold.

A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in act.

Tennyson.

3. To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily.

Every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other.

Shak.

To flash in the pan, to fail of success. [Colloq.] See under Flash, a burst of light. Bartlett.

Syn. -- Flash, Glitter, Gleam, Glisten, Glister. Flash differs from glitter and gleam, denoting a flood or wide extent of light. The latter words may express the issuing of light from a small object, or from a pencil of rays. Flash differs from other words, also, in denoting suddenness of appearance and disappearance. Flashing differs from exploding or disploding in not being accompanied with a loud report. To glisten, or glister, is to shine with a soft and fitful luster, as eyes suffused with tears, or flowers wet with dew.

Flash (flsh), v. t. 1. To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light.

The chariot of paternal Deity, Flashing thick flames.

Milton.

2. To convey as by a flash; to light up, as by a sudden flame or light; as, to flash a message along the wires; to flash conviction on the mind.

3. (Glass Making) To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See Flashing, n., 3 (b).

4. To trick up in a showy manner.

Limning and flashing it with various dyes.

A. Brewer.

5. [Perh. due to confusion between flash of light and plash, splash.] To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface; to splash. [Obs.]

He rudely flashed the waves about.

Spenser.

Flashed glass. See Flashing, n., 3.

Flash, n.; pl. Flashes (&?;). 1. A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.

2. A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show.

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind.

Shak.

No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy.

Wirt.

3. The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period.

The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash.

Bacon.

4. A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to liquors.

Flash light, or Flashing light, a kind of light shown by lighthouses, produced by the revolution of reflectors, so as to show a flash of light every few seconds, alternating with periods of dimness. Knight. -- Flash in the pan, the flashing of the priming in the pan of a flintlock musket without discharging the piece; hence, sudden, spasmodic effort that accomplishes nothing.

Flash, a. 1. Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.

2. Wearing showy, counterfeit ornaments; vulgarly pretentious; as, flash people; flash men or women; -- applied especially to thieves, gamblers, and prostitutes that dress in a showy way and wear much cheap jewelry.

Flash house, a house frequented by flash people, as thieves and whores; hence, a brothel. "A gang of footpads, reveling with their favorite beauties at a flash house." Macaulay.

Flash, n. Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.

Flash, n. [OE. flasche, flaske; cf. OF. flache, F. flaque.] 1. A pool. [Prov. Eng.] Haliwell.

2. (Engineering) A reservoir and sluiceway beside a navigable stream, just above a shoal, so that the stream may pour in water as boats pass, and thus bear them over the shoal.

Flash wheel (Mech.), a paddle wheel made to revolve in a breast or curved water way, by which water is lifted from the lower to the higher level.

Flash"board` (?), n. A board placed temporarily upon a milldam, to raise the water in the pond above its usual level; a flushboard. [U.S.]

Flash"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, flashes.

2. A man of more appearance of wit than reality.

3. (Zoˆl.) (a) A large sparoid fish of the Atlantic coast and all tropical seas (Lobotes Surinamensis). (b) The European red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio); -- called also flusher.

Flash"i*ly (?), adv. In a flashy manner; with empty show.

Flash"i*ness, n. The quality of being flashy.

Flash"ing, n. 1. (Engineering) The creation of an artifical flood by the sudden letting in of a body of water; -- called also flushing.

2. (Arch.) Pieces of metal, built into the joints of a wall, so as to lap over the edge of the gutters or to cover the edge of the roofing; also, similar pieces used to cover the valleys of roofs of slate, shingles, or the like. By extension, the metal covering of ridges and hips of roofs; also, in the United States, the protecting of angles and breaks in walls of frame houses with waterproof material, tarred paper, or the like. Cf. Filleting.

3. (Glass Making) (a) The reheating of an article at the furnace aperture during manufacture to restore its plastic condition; esp., the reheating of a globe of crown glass to allow it to assume a flat shape as it is rotated. (b) A mode of covering transparent white glass with a film of colored glass. Knight.

Flashing point (Chem.), that degree of temperature at which a volatile oil gives off vapor in sufficient quantity to burn, or flash, on the approach of a flame, used as a test of the comparative safety of oils, esp. kerosene; a flashing point of 100∞ F. is regarded as a fairly safe standard. The burning point of the oil is usually from ten to thirty degree above the flashing point of its vapor.

Flash"y (?), a. 1. Dazzling for a moment; making a momentary show of brilliancy; transitorily bright.

A little flashy and transient pleasure.

Barrow.

2. Fiery; vehement; impetuous.

A temper always flashy.

Burke.

3. Showy; gay; gaudy; as, a flashy dress.

4. Without taste or spirit.

Lean and flashy songs.

Milton.

Flask (?), n. [AS. flasce, flaxe; akin to D. flesch, OHG. flasca, G. flasche, Icel. & Sw. flaska, Dan. flaske, OF. flasche, LL. flasca, flasco; of uncertain origin; cf. L. vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel, Gr. &?;, &?;, &?;. Cf. Flagon, Flasket.] 1. A small bottle-shaped vessel for holding fluids; as, a flask of oil or wine.

2. A narrow-necked vessel of metal or glass, used for various purposes; as of sheet metal, to carry gunpowder in; or of wrought iron, to contain quicksilver; or of glass, to heat water in, etc.

3. A bed in a gun carriage. [Obs.] Bailey.

4. (Founding) The wooden or iron frame which holds the sand, etc., forming the mold used in a foundry; it consists of two or more parts; viz., the cope or top; sometimes, the cheeks, or middle part; and the drag, or bottom part. When there are one or more cheeks, the flask is called a three part flask, four part flask, etc.

Erlenmeyer flask, a thin glass flask, flat- bottomed and cone-shaped to allow of safely shaking its contents laterally without danger of spilling; -- so called from Erlenmeyer, a German chemist who invented it. -- Florence flask. [From Florence in Italy.] (a) Same as Betty, n., 3. (b) A glass flask, round or pear-shaped, with round or flat bottom, and usually very thin to allow of heating solutions. -- Pocket flask, a kind of pocket dram bottle, often covered with metal or leather to protect it from breaking.

Flask"et (?), n. [Cf. W. fflasged a vessel of straw or wickerwork, fflasg flask, basket, and E. flask.] 1. A long, shallow basket, with two handles. [Eng.]

In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket.

Spenser.

2. A small flask.

3. A vessel in which viands are served. [Obs.] Pope.

Flat (?), a. [Compar. Flatter (?); superl. Flattest (?).] [Akin to Icel. flatr, Sw. flat, Dan. flad, OHG. flaz, and AS. flet floor, G. flˆtz stratum, layer.] 1. Having an even and horizontal surface, or nearly so, without prominences or depressions; level without inclination; plane.

Though sun and moon Were in the flat sea sunk.

Milton.

2. Lying at full length, or spread out, upon the ground; level with the ground or earth; prostrate; as, to lie flat on the ground; hence, fallen; laid low; ruined; destroyed.

What ruins kingdoms, and lays cities flat!

Milton.

I feel . . . my hopes all flat.

Milton.

3. (Fine Arts) Wanting relief; destitute of variety; without points of prominence and striking interest.

A large part of the work is, to me, very flat.

Coleridge.

4. Tasteless; stale; vapid; insipid; dead; as, fruit or drink flat to the taste.

5. Unanimated; dull; uninteresting; without point or spirit; monotonous; as, a flat speech or composition.

How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of
this world.

Shak.

6. Lacking liveliness of commercial exchange and dealings; depressed; dull; as, the market is flat.

7. Clear; unmistakable; peremptory; absolute; positive; downright.

Flat burglary as ever was committed.

Shak.

A great tobacco taker too, -- that's flat.

Marston.

8. (Mus.) (a) Below the true pitch; hence, as applied to intervals, minor, or lower by a half step; as, a flat seventh; A flat. (b) Not sharp or shrill; not acute; as, a flat sound.

9. (Phonetics) Sonant; vocal; -- applied to any one of the sonant or vocal consonants, as distinguished from a nonsonant (or sharp) consonant.

Flat arch. (Arch.) See under Arch, n., 2. (b). -- Flat cap, cap paper, not folded. See under Paper. -- Flat chasing, in fine art metal working, a mode of ornamenting silverware, etc., producing figures by dots and lines made with a punching tool. Knight. -- Flat chisel, a sculptor's chisel for smoothing. -- Flat file, a file wider than its thickness, and of rectangular section. See File. -- Flat nail, a small, sharp- pointed, wrought nail, with a flat, thin head, larger than a tack. Knight. -- Flat paper, paper which has not been folded. -- Flat rail, a railroad rail consisting of a simple flat bar spiked to a longitudinal sleeper. -- Flat rods (Mining), horizontal or inclined connecting rods, for transmitting motion to pump rods at a distance. Raymond. -- Flat rope, a rope made by plaiting instead of twisting; gasket; sennit. Some flat hoisting ropes, as for mining shafts, are made by sewing together a number of ropes, making a wide, flat band. Knight. -- Flat space. (Geom.) See Euclidian space. -- Flat stitch, the process of wood engraving. [Obs.] -- Flat tint (Painting), a coat of water color of one uniform shade. -- To fall flat (Fig.), to produce no effect; to fail in the intended effect; as, his speech fell flat.

Of all who fell by saber or by shot, Not one fell half so flat as
Walter Scott.

Lord Erskine.

Flat (?), adv. 1. In a flat manner; directly; flatly.

Sin is flat opposite to the Almighty.

Herbert.

2. (Stock Exchange) Without allowance for accrued interest. [Broker's Cant]

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Flat, n. 1. A level surface, without elevation, relief, or prominences; an extended plain; specifically, in the United States, a level tract along the along the banks of a river; as, the Mohawk Flats.

Envy is as the sunbeams that beat hotter upon a bank, or steep
rising ground, than upon a flat.

Bacon.

2. A level tract lying at little depth below the surface of water, or alternately covered and left bare by the tide; a shoal; a shallow; a strand.

Half my power, this night Passing these flats, are taken by the
tide.

Shak.

3. Something broad and flat in form; as: (a) A flat-bottomed boat, without keel, and of small draught. (b) A straw hat, broad- brimmed and low-crowned. (c) (Railroad Mach.) A car without a roof, the body of which is a platform without sides; a platform car. (d) A platform on wheel, upon which emblematic designs, etc., are carried in processions.

4. The flat part, or side, of anything; as, the broad side of a blade, as distinguished from its edge.

5. (Arch.) A floor, loft, or story in a building; especially, a floor of a house, which forms a complete residence in itself.

6. (Mining) A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein; also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal. Raymond.

7. A dull fellow; a simpleton; a numskull. [Colloq.]

Or if you can not make a speech, Because you are a flat.

Holmes.

8. (Mus.) A character [] before a note, indicating a tone which is a half step or semitone lower.

9. (Geom.) A homaloid space or extension.

Flat (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flatted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flatting (?).] 1. To make flat; to flatten; to level.

2. To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress.

Passions are allayed, appetites are flatted.

Barrow.

3. To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in pitch by half a tone.

Flat, v. i. 1. To become flat, or flattened; to sink or fall to an even surface. Sir W. Temple.