Chapter Flaccus to Flay a Fox of F by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Feé. It was made by Weyland, the Vulcan of the Northern Olympus. (Romance of Maugis d' Aygremont et de Vivian son Frère.)

"Mais si une fois je luy fais essayer ceste-cy plus tranchante que `Joyeuse, Durandel, Hauteclaire, ou Flamberge,' je le fendray jusques l'estomach" - Pierre de l'Arivey: Le Jaloux, v.6.

Flamboyant Architecture A florid style which prevailed in France in the 15th and 16th centuries. So called from its flame-like tracery.

"The great tower [of Antwerp cathedral] ... most florid and flamboyant ... is one of the few rivals of the peerless steeple of Strasbourg." - James: Sketches (Belgium), p. 394.

Flame A sweetheart. "An old flame," a quondam sweetheart. In Latin, flamma is used for love, and so is feu in French. Ardeo, to burn like fire, is also applied to the passion of love; hence, Virgil (Ecl. ii. 4). "Corydon ardebat Alexin; " and Horace (Epoch xiii. 9), "Arsit Anacreon Bathyllo. "

Flaming Superb, captivating, attractive. The French flambant. This word was originally applied to those persons who dressed themselves in rich dresses "flaming" with gold and silver thread. We now speak of a "flaming advertisement," etc.

"Le velour, trop commun en France,
Sous toy reprend son vieil honneur,
Tellement que ta remontrance
Nous a fait voir la difference
Du valet et de son Seigneur,
Et du muguet chargé de soye
Qui à tes princes s'esgaloit,
Et riche en draps de soye, alloit
Faisant flamber toute la voye."
Ronsard: Au Roy Henri II. (1546.)

Flaming Swords Swords with a wavy or flamboyant edge, generally used for state purposes. The Dukes of Burgundy carried swords of this sort, and they were worn in our country till the accession of William III.

Flaminian Way The great northern road of ancient Italy, constructed by C. Flaminius, and beginning at the Flaminian gate of Rome, and leading to Ariminium (Rimini).

Flanders (Moll). The chief character of De Foe's novel of the same name. She runs through the whole career of female profligacy, then turns religious.

Flanders' Babies The wooden jointed dolls common in the early part of the nineteenth century, and now almost entirely superseded by "wax dolls."

Flanders' Mare (The). So Henry VIII. called Anne of Cleves. She died at Chelsea in 1557.

Flaneur (French). A lounger, gossiper. From flaner, to saunter about.

Flap-dragons Small combustible bodies blazing at one end and floating in a glass of liquor. The liquor was stirred about with a candle-end to promote combustion. A skilful toper would swallow them blazing, as we swallow the blazing raisins of snap-dragons.

"He drinks off candles' ends for flap-dragons."
- Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV., ii. 4.

Flare-up A sudden outburst of anger; a gas-jet or other ignitible body flares up when lighted with a sudden blaze.

Flare-up (A). A rumpus or row. Also a banquet or jovial treat. The first meaning is simply the substantive of the verb. The second meaning refers to dazzle and "splendour" displayed.

Flash A mere flash in the pan. All sound and fury, signifying nothing; like the attempt to discharge a gun that ends with a flash in the lock-pan, the gun itself "hanging fire."

Flash Men and Flash Notes. Between Buxton, Leek, and Macclesfield is a wild country called the Flash, from a chapel of that name. Here used to live a set of pedlars, who hawked about buttons, ribbons, and other articles made at Leek, together with handkerchiefs and small wares from Manchester. They were known on the road as Flash-men, and frequented fairs and farmhouses. They paid, at first, ready- money; but when they had established a credit, paid in promissory notes, which were rarely honoured. They were ultimately put down by the magistracy.