Finnish Finn"ish adjective Of or pertaining to Finland, to the Finns, or to their language. -- noun A Northern Turanian group of languages; the language of the Finns.

Finns Finns noun plural ; sing. Finn . (Ethnol.) (a) Natives of Finland; Finlanders. (b) A branch of the Mongolian race, inhabiting Northern and Eastern Europe, including the Magyars, Bulgarians, Permians, Lapps, and Finlanders. [ Written also Fins .]

Finny Fin"ny adjective 1. (Zoology) Having, or abounding in, fins, as fishes; pertaining to fishes.

2. Abounding in fishes.

With patient angle trolls the finny deep.

Goldsmoth.

Finochio Fi·no"chi·o noun [ Italian finocchio fennel, Late Latin fenuclum . See Fennel .] (Botany) An umbelliferous plant ( Fœniculum dulce ) having a somewhat tuberous stem; sweet fennel. The blanched stems are used in France and Italy as a culinary vegetable.

Finos Fi"nos noun plural [ Spanish , plural, from fino fine.] Second best wool from Merino sheep. Gardner.

Finpike Fin"pike` noun (Zoology) The bichir. See Crossopterygii .

Finsen light Fin"sen light [ After Prof. Niels R. Finsen (b. 1860), Danish physician.] (Medicine) Highly actinic light, derived from sunlight or from some form of electric lamp, used in the treatment of lupus and other cutaneous affections.

Fint Fint 3d pers. sing. pr. of Find , for findeth . [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Fiord Fiord (fy...rd; i or y consonant, § 272) noun [ Dan. & Norw. fiord . See Frith .] A narrow inlet of the sea, penetrating between high banks or rocks, as on the coasts of Norway and Alaska. [ Written also fjord .]

Fiorin Fi"o·rin noun [ Confer Ir. fiothran a sort of grass.] (Botany) A species of creeping bent grass ( Agrostis alba ); -- called also fiorin grass .

Fiorite Fi"o·rite noun (Min.) A variety of opal occuring in the cavities of volcanic tufa, in smooth and shining globular and botryoidal masses, having a pearly luster; - - so called from Fiora , in Ischia.

Fioriture Fio`ri·tu"re noun plural [ Italian , plural of fioritura a flowering.] (Mus.) Little flowers of ornament introduced into a melody by a singer or player.

Fippenny bit Fip"pen·ny bit` (? or ?). [ Corruption of five penny bit .] The Spanish half real, or one sixteenth of a dollar, - - so called in Pennsylvania and the adjacent States. [ Obsolete]

» Before the act of Congress, Feb. 21, 1857, caused the adoption of decimal coins and the withdrawal of foreign coinage from circulation, this coin passed currently for 6¼ cents, and was called in New England a fourpence ha'penny or fourpence ; in New York a sixpence ; in Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc., a fip ; and in Louisiana, a picayune .

Fipple Fip"ple (fẽr) noun [ perh. from Latin fibula a clasp, a pin; confer Prov. English fible a stick used to stir pottage.] A stopper, as in a wind instrument of music. [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Fir Fir (fẽr) noun [ Danish fyr , fyrr ; akin to Swedish furu , Icelandic fura , Anglo-Saxon furh in furh wudu fir wood, German föhre , Old High German forha pine, vereh eih a sort of oak, Latin quercus oak.] (Botany) A genus ( Abies ) of coniferous trees, often of large size and elegant shape, some of them valued for their timber and others for their resin. The species are distinguished as the balsam fir , the silver fir , the red fir , etc. The Scotch fir is a Pinus .

» Fir in the Bible means any one of several coniferous trees, including, cedar, cypress, and probably three species of pine. J. D. Hooker.

Fir tree Fir" tree` See Fir .

Fire Fire (fīr) noun [ Middle English fir , fyr , fur Anglo-Saxon fȳr ; akin to Dutch vuur , Old Saxon & Old High German fiur , German feuer , Icelandic fȳri , fūrr , Greek py^r , and perhaps to Latin purus pure, English pure Confer Empyrean , Pyre .] 1. The evolution of light and heat in the combustion of bodies; combustion; state of ignition.

» The form of fire exhibited in the combustion of gases in an ascending stream or current is called flame . Anciently, fire , air, earth, and water were regarded as the four elements of which all things are composed.

2. Fuel in a state of combustion, as on a hearth, or in a stove or a furnace.

3. The burning of a house or town; a conflagration.

4. Anything which destroys or affects like fire.

5. Ardor of passion, whether love or hate; excessive warmth; consuming violence of temper.

he had fire in his temper.

Atterbury.

6. Liveliness of imagination or fancy; intellectual and moral enthusiasm; capacity for ardor and zeal.

And bless their critic with a poet's fire .

Pope.

7. Splendor; brilliancy; luster; hence, a star.

Stars, hide your fires .

Shak.

As in a zodiac
representing the heavenly fires .

Milton.

8. Torture by burning; severe trial or affliction.

9. The discharge of firearms; firing; as, the troops were exposed to a heavy fire .

Blue fire , Red fire , Green fire (Pyrotech.) , compositions of various combustible substances, as sulphur, niter, lampblack, etc., the flames of which are colored by various metallic salts, as those of antimony, strontium, barium, etc. -- Fire alarm (a) A signal given on the breaking out of a fire. (b) An apparatus for giving such an alarm. -- Fire annihilator , a machine, device, or preparation to be kept at hand for extinguishing fire by smothering it with some incombustible vapor or gas, as carbonic acid. -- Fire balloon . (a) A balloon raised in the air by the buoyancy of air heated by a fire placed in the lower part . (b) A balloon sent up at night with fireworks which ignite at a regulated height. Simmonds. -- Fire bar , a grate bar. -- Fire basket , a portable grate; a cresset. Knight. -- Fire beetle . (Zoology) See in the Vocabulary. -- Fire blast , a disease of plants which causes them to appear as if burnt by fire. -- Fire box , the chamber of a furnace, steam boiler, etc., for the fire. -- Fire brick , a refractory brick, capable of sustaining intense heat without fusion, usually made of fire clay or of siliceous material, with some cementing substance, and used for lining fire boxes, etc. -- Fire brigade , an organized body of men for extinguished fires. -- Fire bucket . See under Bucket . -- Fire bug , an incendiary; one who, from malice or through mania, persistently sets fire to property; a pyromaniac. [ U.S.] -- Fire clay . See under Clay . -- Fire company , a company of men managing an engine in extinguishing fires. -- Fire cross . See Fiery cross . [ Obsolete] Milton. -- Fire damp . See under Damp . -- Fire dog . See Firedog , in the Vocabulary. -- Fire drill . (a) A series of evolutions performed by fireman for practice . (b) An apparatus for producing fire by friction, by rapidly twirling a wooden pin in a wooden socket; -- used by the Hindoos during all historic time, and by many savage peoples. -- Fire eater . (a) A juggler who pretends to eat fire. (b) A quarrelsome person who seeks affrays; a hotspur. [ Colloq.] -- Fire engine , a portable forcing pump, usually on wheels, for throwing water to extinguish fire. -- Fire escape , a contrivance for facilitating escape from burning buildings. -- Fire gilding (Fine Arts) , a mode of gilding with an amalgam of gold and quicksilver, the latter metal being driven off afterward by heat. -- Fire gilt (Fine Arts) , gold laid on by the process of fire gilding. -- Fire insurance , the act or system of insuring against fire; also, a contract by which an insurance company undertakes, in consideration of the payment of a premium or small percentage -- usually made periodically -- to indemnify an owner of property from loss by fire during a specified period. -- Fire irons , utensils for a fireplace or grate, as tongs, poker, and shovel. -- Fire main , a pipe for water, to be used in putting out fire. -- Fire master (Mil) , an artillery officer who formerly supervised the composition of fireworks. -- Fire office , an office at which to effect insurance against fire. -- Fire opal , a variety of opal giving firelike reflections. -- Fire ordeal , an ancient mode of trial, in which the test was the ability of the accused to handle or tread upon red-hot irons. Abbot. -- Fire pan , a pan for holding or conveying fire, especially the receptacle for the priming of a gun. -- Fire plug , a plug or hydrant for drawing water from the main pipes in a street, building, etc., for extinguishing fires. -- Fire policy , the writing or instrument expressing the contract of insurance against loss by fire. -- Fire pot . (a) (Mil.) A small earthen pot filled with combustibles, formerly used as a missile in war. (b) The cast iron vessel which holds the fuel or fire in a furnace. (c) A crucible. (d) A solderer's furnace. -- Fire raft , a raft laden with combustibles, used for setting fire to an enemy's ships. -- Fire roll , a peculiar beat of the drum to summon men to their quarters in case of fire. -- Fire setting (Mining) , the process of softening or cracking the working face of a lode, to facilitate excavation, by exposing it to the action of fire; -- now generally superseded by the use of explosives. Raymond. -- Fire ship , a vessel filled with combustibles, for setting fire to an enemy's ships. -- Fire shovel , a shovel for taking up coals of fire. -- Fire stink , the stench from decomposing iron pyrites, caused by the formation of sulphureted hydrogen. Raymond. -- Fire surface , the surfaces of a steam boiler which are exposed to the direct heat of the fuel and the products of combustion; heating surface. -- Fire swab , a swab saturated with water, for cooling a gun in action and clearing away particles of powder, etc. Farrow. -- Fire teaser , in England, the fireman of a steam emgine. -- Fire water , ardent spirits; -- so called by the American Indians. -- Fire worship , the worship of fire, which prevails chiefly in Persia, among the followers of Zoroaster, called Chebers , or Guebers , and among the Parsees of India. -- Greek fire . See under Greek . -- On fire , burning; hence, ardent; passionate; eager; zealous. -- Running fire , the rapid discharge of firearms in succession by a line of troops. -- St. Anthony's fire , erysipelas; -- an eruptive fever which St. Anthony was supposed to cure miraculously. Hoblyn. -- St. Elmo's fire . See under Saint Elmo . -- To set on fire , to inflame; to kindle. -- To take fire , to begin to burn; to fly into a passion.

Fire Fire transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Fired ; present participle & verbal noun Fring .] 1. To set on fire; to kindle; as, to fire a house or chimney; to fire a pile.

2. To subject to intense heat; to bake; to burn in a kiln; as, to fire pottery.

3. To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to fire the soul with anger, pride, or revenge.

Love had fired my mind.

Dryden.

4. To animate; to give life or spirit to; as, to fire the genius of a young man.

5. To feed or serve the fire of; as, to fire a boiler.

6. To light up as if by fire; to illuminate.

[ The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines.

Shak.

7. To cause to explode; as, to fire a torpedo; to disharge; as, to fire a musket or cannon; to fire cannon balls, rockets, etc.

8. To drive by fire. [ Obsolete]

Till my bad angel fire my good one out.

Shak.

9. (Far.) To cauterize.

To fire up , to light up the fires of, as of an engine.

Fire Fire intransitive verb 1. To take fire; to be kindled; to kindle.

2. To be irritated or inflamed with passion.

3. To discharge artillery or firearms; as, they fired on the town.

To fire up , to grow irritated or angry. "He . . . fired up , and stood vigorously on his defense." Macaulay.

Fire beetle Fire" bee`tle (Zoology) A very brilliantly luminous beetle ( Pyrophorus noctilucus ), one of the elaters, found in Central and South America; -- called also cucujo . The name is also applied to other species. See Firefly .

Fire-fanged Fire"-fanged` adjective [ Fire + fanged seized.] Injured as by fire; burned; -- said of manure which has lost its goodness and acquired an ashy hue in consequence of heat generated by decomposition.

Fire-new Fire"-new` adjective Fresh from the forge; bright; quite new; brand-new. Charles reade.

Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current.

Shak.

Fire-set Fire"-set` noun A set of fire irons, including, commonly, tongs, shovel, and poker.

Firearm Fire"arm` (-ärm`) noun A gun, pistol, or any weapon from which a shot is discharged by the force of an explosive substance, as gunpowder.

Fireback Fire"back` noun (Zoology) One of several species of pheasants of the genus Euplocamus , having the lower back a bright, fiery red. They inhabit Southern Asia and the East Indies.

Fireball Fire"ball` noun (a) (Mil.) A ball filled with powder or other combustibles, intended to be thrown among enemies, and to injure by explosion; also, to set fire to their works and light them up, so that movements may be seen. (b) A luminous meteor, resembling a ball of fire passing rapidly through the air, and sometimes exploding.

Fireball Fire"ball` noun Ball, or globular, lightning.

Firebare Fire"bare` noun A beacon. [ Obsolete] Burrill.

Firebird Fire"bird` noun (Zoology) The Baltimore oriole.

Fireboard Fire"board` noun A chimney board or screen to close a fireplace when not in use.

Firebote Fire"bote` noun (O. Eng. Law) An allowance of fuel. See Bote .

Firebrand Fire"brand` noun 1. A piece of burning wood. L'Estrange.

2. One who inflames factions, or causes contention and mischief; an incendiary. Bacon.

Firecracker Fire"crack`er noun See Cracker ., noun , 3.

Firecrest Fire"crest` noun (Zoology) A small European kinglet ( Regulus ignicapillus ), having a bright red crest; -- called also fire-crested wren .

Firedog Fire"dog` noun A support for wood in a fireplace; an andiron.

Firedrake Fire"drake` noun [ Anglo-Saxon fȳrdraca ; fȳr fire + draca a dragon. See Fire , and Drake a dragon.] [ Obsolete] 1. A fiery dragon. Beau. & Fl.

2. A fiery meteor; an ignis fatuus; a rocket.

3. A worker at a furnace or fire. B. Jonson.

Firefish Fire"fish` noun (Zoology) A singular marine fish of the genus Pterois , family Scorpænidæ , of several species, inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region. They are usually red, and have very large spinose pectoral and dorsal fins.

Fireflaire Fire"flaire` noun [ Fire + Prov. English flaire a ray.] (Zoology) A European sting ray of the genus Trygon ( T. pastinaca ); -- called also fireflare and fiery flaw .

Fireflame Fire"flame` noun (Zoology) The European band fish ( Cepola rubescens ).

Firefly Fire"fly` noun ; plural Fireflies (Zoology) Any luminous winged insect, esp. luminous beetles of the family Lampyridæ .

» The common American species belong to the genera Photinus and Photuris , in which both sexes are winged. The name is also applied to luminous species of Elateridæ . See Fire beetle .

Fireless Fire"less adjective Destitute of fire.

Firelock Fire"lock` noun An old form of gunlock, as the flintlock, which ignites the priming by a spark; perhaps originally, a matchlock. Hence, a gun having such a lock.

Fireman Fire"man noun ; plural Firemen (-m e n). 1. A man whose business is to extinguish fires in towns; a member of a fire company.

2. A man who tends the fires, as of a steam engine; a stocker.

Fireplace Fire"place` noun The part a chimney appropriated to the fire; a hearth; -- usually an open recess in a wall, in which a fire may be built.

Fireproof Fire"proof` adjective Proof against fire; incombustible.

Fireproofing Fire"proof`ing noun The act or process of rendering anything incombustible; also, the materials used in the process.

Firer Fir"er noun One who fires or sets fire to anything; an incendiary. [ R.] R. Carew.

Fireroom Fire"room` noun Same as Stokehold , below.

Fireside Fire"side` noun A place near the fire or hearth; home; domestic life or retirement.

Firestone Fire"stone` noun [ Anglo-Saxon fȳrstān flint; fȳr fire + stān stone.] 1. Iron pyrites, formerly used for striking fire; also, a flint.

2. A stone which will bear the heat of a furnace without injury; -- especially applied to the sandstone at the top of the upper greensand in the south of England, used for lining kilns and furnaces. Ure.

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