Chapter Fearless to Feeble of F by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Feather One's Oar (To.)
   To feather an oar is to turn the blade parallel with the surface of the water as the hands are moved forward for a fresh stroke. (The Greek pteron means both "an oar" and "a feather;" and the verb pteroö, to "furnish with oars" or "with feathers.") The oar throws off the water in a feathery spray.

"He feathered his oars with such skill and dexterity." Jolly Young Waterman.

Feather Stone A federal stone or stone table at which the ancient courts baron were held in the open air, and at which covenants were made. (Latin, foedus, a treaty.)

Feathers (The). A public-house sign in compliment to Henry VI., whose cognizance it was.
   Fine feathers make fine birds. (Latin, "Vestis virum facit, " dress makes the man). The French proverb is "La belle plume fait le bel oiseau."
   The Prince of Wales' feathers. The tradition is, that the Black Prince, having slain John of Luxemburg, King of Bohemia, in the Battle of Cressy, assumed his crest and motto. The crest consisted of three ostrich feathers, and the motto was "Ich dien " (I serve). John of Arden discovered a contemporary MS., in which it is expressly said that this was the case; but much controversy has arisen on the question. Dr. Bell affirms that the crest is a rebus of Queen Philippa's hereditary title - viz. Countess of Ostre-vant (ostrich-feather). Randall Holmes claims an old British origin; and the Rev. H. Longueville asserts that the arms of Roderick Mawe, prior to the division of Wales into principalities, was thus blazoned: - "Argent, three lions passant regardant, with their tails passing between their legs and curling over their backs in a feathery form."

Feature means the "make." Spenser speaks of God's "secret understanding of our feature" - i.e. make or structure. It now means that part which is most conspicuous or important. Thus we speak of the chief feature of a painting, a garden, a book, etc., etc. (Norman, faiture; Latin, factura.)

February The month of purification amongst the ancient Romans. (Latin, februo, to purify by sacrifice.)
   The 2nd of February (Candlemas Day). It is said, if the weather is fine and frosty at the close of January and beginning of February, we may look for more winter to come than we have seen up to that time.

"Si sol splendescat Mari'a Purificantë,
Major erit glaciës post festum quam fuit ante."
Sir T. Browne: Vulgar Errors.

"If Candlemas Day be dry and fair,
The half o' winter's come and mair;
If Candlemas Day be wet and foul,
The half o' winter was gane at Youl."
Scotch Proverb.

"The badger peeps out of his hole on Candlemas Day, and, if he finds snow, walks abroad; but if he sees the sun shining he draws back into his hole." - German Proverb.

Fecit (Latin, he did it). A word inscribed after the name of an artist, sculptor, etc., as David fecit, Goujon fecit; i.e. David painted it, Goujon sculptured it, etc.

Fecula means sediment. Starch is a fecula, being the sediment of flour steeped in water. (Latin, fæces, dregs.)

Federal States In the late American war the Unionists were so called - i.e. those northern states which combined to resist the eleven southern or Confederate states (q.v.).

Fee Anglo-Saxon feoh, cattle, goods, money. So in Latin, pecunia, from pecus, cattle. Capital is capita, heads [of cattle], and chattels is a mere variant.

Fee-farm-rent is where an estate is granted, subject to a rent in fee of at least one-fourth its value. It is rent paid on lands let to farm, and not let in recompense of service at a greatly reduced value.

Fee-penny A fine for money overdue. Sir Thomas Gresham often wrote for money "in order to save the fee-penny."