Fiorin
(Fi"o*rin) n. [Cf. Ir. fiothran a sort of grass.] (Bot.) A species of creeping bent grass (Agrostis
alba); — called also fiorin grass.
Fiorite
(Fi"o*rite) n. (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) n. pl. [It., pl. of fioritura a flowering.] (Mus.) Little flowers of ornament introduced
into a melody by a singer or player.
Fippenny bit
(Fip"pen*ny bit`) [Corruption of five penny bit.] The Spanish half real, or one sixteenth of
a dollar, - - so called in Pennsylvania and the adjacent States. [Obs.]
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) n. [perh. fr. L. fibula a clasp, a pin; cf. Prov. E. fible a stick used to stir pottage.] A
stopper, as in a wind instrument of music. [Obs.] Bacon.
Fir
(Fir) n. [Dan. fyr, fyrr; akin to Sw. furu, Icel. fura, AS. furh in furhwudu fir wood, G. föhre, OHG.
forha pine, vereheih a sort of oak, L. quercus oak.] (Bot.) 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.
Fire
(Fire) n. [OE. fir, fyr, fur AS. fyr; akin to D. vuur, OS. & OHG. fiur, G. feuer, Icel. fyri, furr, Gr.
py^r, and perh. to L. purus pure, E. pure Cf. 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.
